The human body consists of hundreds of cell types that originate from a fertilized egg and share the same genetic makeup. As cells develop, they become specialized for specific functions, meaning skin cells cannot naturally transform into liver cells or blood cells into nerve cells. However, researchers can now change a cell’s developmental identity in the laboratory using specific transcription factors that alter how genes are activated.

Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn, led by Professor Oliver Brüstle, directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into neural stem cells. Unlike conventional methods, this approach bypasses the pluripotent stem cell stage and converts the cells directly into neural stem cells. Previous studies showed that nerve cells generated through this technique could form connections with existing neurons after transplantation into mouse brains.

The researchers focused on how this process affects cellular aging. Using epigenetic clocks, which measure age-related changes in DNA modifications, they found that reprogramming significantly reduced the cells’ molecular age. Cells obtained from an 80-year-old individual showed a molecular age of less than 20 years, suggesting a substantial rejuvenation effect.

Unlike traditional two-step reprogramming, which can reset cellular aging rapidly, the direct conversion method produced gradual rejuvenation over several weeks, with changes monitored for more than 100 days. This extended process provides researchers with an opportunity to investigate the biological mechanisms behind cellular rejuvenation and identify factors that may accelerate or slow it down.

These findings could contribute to future advances in aging research, cellular rejuvenation, regenerative medicine, and longevity science. Since aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, understanding how cells can be rejuvenated may also help researchers explore new approaches to age-related neurological disorders. However, further research is needed before these findings can be translated into clinical treatments.

Source: https://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-transform-old-blood-cells-into-young-brain-cells/?ad2f=1&aid=856294