French Scientists Restored The Youth Of 100 Years Old Cells Life Style

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French researchers were able to restore the youth of cells taken from people aged over 100 years, reprograming them to stem cells stage, demonstrating that aging is in fact reversible. The research on the possibility to remove traces left by aging cells, published in the Genes & Development journal , marks a new stage in the regenerative medicine field, said Jean-Marc Lemaitre from Fonctionnelle GÃ©nomique Institute (INSERM / CNRS / UniversitÃ© de Montpellier), who led the study, informs AFP.

The study contributed to another important achievement: a better understanding of aging and its pathological aspects correction, say scientists at INSERM.

Old cells were reprogrammed to be pluripotent stem cells in vitro – IPSC (Induced pluripotent stem cells), which have the youth and characteristics of embryonic stem cells (hESC). They can differentiate back into cells of all types (neurons, heart cells, epithelial, liver etc) after the “rejuvenation” cure made by French scientists.

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Since 2007, scientists have shown that they can reprogram adult cells into pluripotent human stem cells (IPSC), whose properties are similar to those of embryonic stem cells. Those reprogrammed adult cells from avoid the criticisms regarding the use of embryonic stem cells.

Before the great success of French researchers, reprogramming adult cells hit a limit, senescence, cellular aging ultimate point. The team of scientists led by Jean-Marc Lemaitre managed to exceed this limit.

The researchers first multiplied epithelial cells (fibroblasts) from a donor aged 74 years to reach senescence, characterized by cessation of cell multiplication process. The researchers then conducted an in vitro reprogramming of these cells. Since this process was not possible through clasic preparation based on four genetic factors (OCT4, Sox2, Myc and KLF4 C), they added two more (NANOG and LIN28).

With this new “cocktail” of six ingredients, reprogrammed senescent cells have regained the characteristics of pluripotent stem cells embryonic type without any trace of aging to preserve their past. Age markers were deleted from cells and the IPSC (Induced pluripotent stem cells) that were obtained can produce all type of functional cells, with multiplication capacity and increased longevity.

Researchers then tested the “cocktail” on older cells, aged 92 years, 94 years, 96 years and 101 years, the same success is achieved each time, including for the 101 year old cells.

“Age is certainly not a barrier for cell reprogramming,” concluded the research leader.

This study opens the way for using reprogrammed IPS cells as a source of adult cells ideally tolerated by the immune system to repair damaged organs or tissues in elderly patients.