Aging Blood Stem Cells Reversed to youthful State in Landmark Mouse study
New York, NY – Scientists at Mount Sinai have successfully reversed aging in blood stem cells in mice, restoring their ability to produce balanced blood and immune cell populations. The breakthrough, published in Cell Stem Cell on November 14, 2024, offers a potential pathway to rejuvenate aging immune systems and improve the success of stem cell transplants in humans.
The research team discovered that aging in blood stem cells (HSCs) is linked to hyperactivity within lysosomes - cellular structures responsible for waste removal. By slowing down lysosome activity and reducing their acidity, researchers were able to “reset” aged stem cells to a younger, healthier state. This resulted in the resumption of blood cell production in appropriate ratios, correcting the tendency of older HSCs to produce an imbalanced distribution of cell types, ultimately diminishing immune system efficiency.
“Our findings reveal that aging in blood stem cells is not an irreversible fate. Old blood stem cells have the capacity to revert to a youthful state; they can bounce back,” said Dr. ghaffari of Mount Sinai. “By targeting lysosomal hyperactivity,we were able to reset aged stem cells to a younger,healthier state,improving their ability to regenerate blood and immune cells.”
Elderly HSCs are often unsuitable for stem cell transplants. However, the treated stem cells, rejuvenated with the targeted approach, were successfully transplanted in an animal model. This suggests a similar ex vivo treatment – modifying cells outside the body – could significantly improve outcomes for human stem cell transplants.
“Lysosomal dysfunction emerges as a central driver of stem cell aging,” Dr. Ghaffari explained. “targeting this pathway may one day help maintain healthy blood and immune systems in the elderly, improve their stem cells for transplantation, and reduce the risk of age-associated blood disorders and perhaps have an effect on overall aging.”
The study utilized concanamycin A to modulate lysosomal function. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and assess the safety and efficacy of this approach in humans.
