A BREAKTHROUGH from scientists in Oxford and Switzerland may hold clues about how live into a healthier old age.

Oxford University said their paper in the journal Nature Immunology explains how the protein Foxn1 can control the production of T cells in the immune system.

Foxn1 is known to be essential to the production of TEC, which is needed to create T cells in the thymus.

The team was the first to map how it binds to particular sections of DNA.

Oxford University's Professor Georg Hollander said: "The findings identify new potential strategies to preserve thymus function for longer, raising the prospect of a healthier old age."