The technique developed by scientists at the Babraham Institute, affiliated with the University of Cambridge, can ‘reprogram’ skin cells. As a result, the cells look younger and behave as if they are much younger.
The researchers used cells from the skin of a 53-year-old woman. The result: after the treatment in a laboratory, the skin had the same quality as that of a 23-year-old.
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The scientists did experiments that simulated a skin wound. Older cells were exposed to a mixture of chemicals so that the cells became ‘young’ again. The function of the old cell does not change, but works as before.
It has been shown, for example, that the so-called fibroblasts – which ensure that skin becomes firm and elastic – do their job much better. They made sure the wound could heal much better.
Replace or repair
As our bodies age, the ability of human cells to function decreases. So-called regenerative medicine focuses on replacing or repairing cells and tissue.
The researchers argue that this could mean a revolution. According to researcher Diljeet Gill, significant steps have been taken: “We now understand much better how aging works at the molecular level.”
Professor Carlijn Bouten of Eindhoven University of Technology specializes in regenerative medicine and finds the research interesting. “It’s really beautiful what these researchers have done.”
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Who knows, it might then be possible to do something about age-related diseases, the researchers think. The ultimate goal is to develop treatments for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders. Bouten: “I think this interpretation, whether we can prevent and treat diseases, is still a big step. But it is a model, as we call it, to study this further.”
The researchers have already established that the method used has an effect on genes related to disorders such as Alzheimer’s or cataracts.
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Sheep Dolly
The technique used has its origins in the 1990s. Researchers then succeeded in turning the cells of a sheep’s mammary gland into an embryo. From it, the cloned sheep Dolly was created.
In 2007 it was discovered that human embryonic stem cells could also be made. This made it possible to culture specific tissues, such as muscle cells, cartilage or nerve cells.
This new research, published in the trade magazine eLife, goes one step further. We have succeeded in not breaking down the cells, but making them biologically younger. The original function of the cells remains the same.
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Bouten calls the research a first step towards more research into the rejuvenation of body cells. “We can learn a lot from this. This is actually only the first step. Can we also do this with brain cells, for example? Or blood cells? Then it becomes even more interesting.”
In any case, more research is needed, because there are still many question marks: The mechanism behind the reprogramming of the cells is not yet fully understood.
Cancer risk
In addition, there is also a risk of cancer with this method, explains Bouten. “Aging is actually our weapon against cancer and mutations in a cell. If you make a cell younger again, it continues to divide and the chance of cancer is greater.”
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There is still much to learn in this area. “But we can nevertheless say that this is promising for the future,” said researcher Gill.
Fitter later in life
The head of the research team, Professor Wol Reik, explains against the BBC that he hopes that the technology can eventually be used to healthier and longer fit when they get older. “We dream about things like this. Common diseases get worse with age and it’s exciting to think about how we can help people,” he says.
The big question is whether research can lead to something that can give people ‘eternal life’. According to Reik, that doesn’t have to be impossible. “The technique has been used in genetically modified mice and rejuvenation seems to occur there.”
Professor Bouten does not envision eternal life, because this technique cannot be applied to all cells. She mentions our heart as an example: “The cells of your heart never divide, they are there forever. There is no eternal life in sight,” says Bouten. “But this research is another step toward understanding age-related diseases.”
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