The Harvard team’s results demonstrate that aging may not be inevitable. Scientists can make old cells younger again by altering their genes.
Scientists used a series of chemicals to modify epigenetic instructions in cells. Their combination rewound the clock by 57% among mice.
What is it?
Harvard scientists have discovered a way to reverse aging in mice. Their discovery could revolutionize treatments for age-related diseases and advance regenerative medicine, as well as add weight to the growing belief that aging is not inevitable and can be reversed. Their findings were published in Aging.
Scientists employed a chemical cocktail to rejuvenate old cells within muscles, tissues and organs. They tested it on mice carrying a genetic mutation which prevents them from producing the enzyme telomerase which normally prevents their chromosomes from shortening and eventually stopping cell growth. Without it these mice developed age-related ailments including reduced sense of smell and infertility; once given this chemical cocktail the mice were able to reproduce successfully and their organs showed signs of repair.
Scientists have long held that changes to DNA cause biological aging; however, a recent Harvard Medical School study suggests otherwise; rather, genes may turn on and off differently during our daily activities, leading to differential effects on biological ageing. Harvard researchers discovered that simple daily habits could significantly lower biological age over time.
This latest research supports the hypothesis that our biological age is determined primarily by epigenetics rather than mutations. Additionally, diet, lifestyle and environmental factors all have epigenetic impacts which are reversible; this can help lower cardiovascular disease risks as well as cancer risks associated with aging.
Researchers used a combination of drugs to reprogram skin cells into iPSCs. Once converted, these iPSCs were exposed to six chemicals that led them to reset their gene activity clocks and reverse the aging process in just over one week without altering cellular identity or altering gene activity clocks – suggesting this effect might also be possible in humans with small-molecule compounds.
This research is an essential step toward our ultimate goal of delaying, reversing and eliminating age-related diseases, but many obstacles remain before this breakthrough can be implemented clinically. Previous experiments conducted by scientists revealed that reprogrammed cells can proliferate uncontrollably and cause tumor formation; understanding why such iPSCs become susceptible will accelerate search for more effective anti-ageing therapies.
How does it work?
Harvard Medical School researchers claim they have discovered a chemical cocktail which can reverse the aging process within cells found in muscles, tissues and organs. Their findings were published in Aging journal. Additionally, this drink can rejuvenate old cells as well as prevent or treat age-related diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers developed an automated screen to find molecules that reset a cell’s epigenetic clock, which regulates gene expression. Starting with human fibroblast cells and high-throughput screening systems to differentiate between young, old, and senescent (ceased working) cells; testing candidate molecules on them; they discovered six that restore nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization and gene activity patterns back to youthful state in less than one week.
Scientists have long demonstrated the ability of scientists to rewind cellular clocks; this research may be particularly significant. Previous mouse studies used Yamanaka factors delivered via viral infection to manipulate genetics of adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can then be programmed into any type of tissue in the body.
However, this approach carries risks. Over time, telomere shortening may trigger cells to go into suicide mode or stop dividing altogether; to counter this telomerase gene reactivation can help.
The team compared rejuvenated cells to senescent ones and observed significant DNA damage, an indicator of aging. Scientists were then able to increase mice longevity by reversing aging processes in muscles, brain, kidneys and eyes – although its exact impact is yet unknown for humans – with results being promising enough that clinical trials with mice are currently taking place.
What are the risks?
Harvard researchers claim to have discovered a way to turn back biological clock without altering genetic codes of cells. Their new method uses chemicals to rejuvenate senescent or older cells and restore their functions such as making new neurons without altering genetic information stored within. If successful, this may open doors to more powerful gene therapies and overall body rejuvenation treatments.
Researchers conducted the study by employing six “chemical cocktails” to reverse key hallmarks of aging in mice. According to scientists, they did this by activating an enzyme known as telomerase, which keeps telomeres from shortening too far and leading to cell death. They also stimulated new mitochondria production within these animals – important energy producers that become vulnerable due to normal oxidation during normal aging processes.
Replicating this feat in humans will be more challenging, since adult humans produce very little telomerase as an evolutionary compensation against cancer formation; but temporarily increasing telomerase levels might still work; DePinho claims he has done this before with mice, and their lifespans were extended, along with age-related issues like cataracts and muscle loss being avoided as a result of treatment.
He hopes to extend the experiment by testing whether his reverse cell rejuvenation methods can benefit human patients suffering from senescent cells. If successful, his team could create a pill capable of rejuvenating cells similarly to chemical cocktails.
Up until now, the primary methods of reprogramming cellular aging were injection of genes. Unfortunately, these were expensive, laborious procedures that only worked in specific organs and tissues and did not delete genetic information stored within cells – thus leaving only partial effects behind in terms of reversed cellular aging. Harvard team’s method is significantly cheaper and more versatile.
While this research is promising, it should be kept in perspective that it has yet to be replicated elsewhere and cannot yet be taken as evidence that its approach will extend human lifespans or cure chronic illnesses. Still, its findings underscore the necessity of treating aging as an illness rather than simply part of life itself; furthermore it suggests ways of improving human health through lifestyle modifications like eating healthily and engaging in regular physical exercise.
What are the benefits?
Scientists from Harvard have made great strides in their search for the fabled Fountain of Youth, coming close to reversing it by rejuvenating worn out organs in elderly mice. Their research has produced promising results such as improved vision and longer lifespans – raising hopes that similar treatments could one day reverse human aging processes.
Researchers’ discovery marks yet another step toward an eventual cure for aging. Their work involved genetically modifying mice so they would no longer produce the enzyme called telomerase, which prevents their telomeres from shortening and ultimately degrading over time. Mice without this gene became old and sick with poor sense of smell, infertility, smaller brains and damaged intestines and spleens – yet when researchers reactivated this gene in those mice their bodies rejuvenated without incurring age-related diseases or illnesses related to age-related issues.
These findings lend evidence for the theory that epigenetic changes cause aging rather than mutations of DNA itself; epigenetics refers to changes in how genes are expressed rather than to sequence changes; epigenetic modifications do not alter sequence but instead affect activity levels of specific genes.
This breakthrough has far-reaching ramifications beyond health and wellness; it could help scientists better understand aging and treat age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. Scientists currently rely on young animals or tissues as models for specific forms of aging such as Alzheimer’s; with this new approach, scientists could replicate these effects with older animals or people as well.
Though the Harvard team’s findings may seem promising, other biologists remain wary. Matt Kaeberlein of UC Berkeley notes that while their approach looks promising, it would be premature to declare victory in their battle against aging.
Researchers now hope to expand their work beyond human skin cells and examine whether similar approaches could work on organ cells from other areas, such as brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. Furthermore, they’re exploring whether they could reverse aging in human skin cells themselves.
