Scientists REVERSE ageing in human skin cells by 30 years
The early findings could revolutionise medicine
Researchers have managed to reverse ageing in human skin cells by 30 years, according to a new study.
Scientists say they've developed a method to time jump skin cells by three decades, rewinding the clock without cells losing their function.
The report described being able to partly restore the function of older cells, as well as renew the biological age.
Study "could open up amazing therapeutic horizon"
According to the study, in experiments that simulated a skin wound, the partially rejuvenated cells showed signs of behaving more like youthful cells.
It's been suggested the findings, which are in their early stages, could revolutionise regenerative medicine, if replicated in other cell types.
Professor Wolf Reik, a group leader in the Epigenetics research programme who has recently moved to lead the Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, said: "This work has very exciting implications.
"Eventually, we may be able to identify genes that rejuvenate without reprogramming, and specifically target those to reduce the effects of ageing.
"This approach holds promise for valuable discoveries that could open up an amazing therapeutic horizon."
Dr Diljeet Gill, a postdoctoral researcher in Prof Reik's lab at the Babraham Institute who conducted the work as a PhD student, said: "Our results represent a big step forward in our understanding of cell reprogramming.
"We have proved that cells can be rejuvenated without losing their function and that rejuvenation looks to restore some function to old cells.
"The fact that we also saw a reverse of ageing indicators in genes associated with diseases is particularly promising for the future of this work."
What is regenerative biolody?
As people age, their cells' begin losing the ability to function, and their DNA blueprint begins to show signs of ageing.
Regenerative biology aims to repair or replace cells, including old ones. A bit like what happens to Doctor Who every few years.
One of the most important tools is being able to create 'induced' stem cells, allowing them to become a new cell type.
However that can completely rid cells of their original identity, causing problems.
This new method allows scientists to avoid that by stopping the cells reprogramming part of the way through the process.
This allowed researchers to find the precise balance between reprogramming cells, making them biologically younger, while still being able to regain their specialised cell function.
They say the potential applications of this technique are dependent on the cells not only appearing younger but functioning like young cells too.
Experts suggest that, in the future, the research may also open up other therapeutic possibilities.
They observed that their method also had an effect on other genes linked to age-related diseases and symptoms, like the APBA2 gene associated with Alzheimer's disease, and the MAF gene with a role in the development of cataracts.