Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the UK successfully rejuvenated the skin cells of a 53-year-old woman over a period of 30 years. The researchers believe that, using the same technique, they could reproduce this result in other parts of the body. This technology is key to preventing and treating some age-related diseases. Check out more details!
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The research was published in the scientific journal eLife by European scholars (German, Portuguese and British) from the Babraham Institute for Epigenetics in Cambridge. This technique is based on the technology that was used to create Dolly the Sheep, the sheep that was cloned in the UK over 25 years ago.
With this technology, the idea is to develop treatments for diseases caused by advancing age, such as diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders.
Stem cells appear in the early stages of an embryo and can develop into all types of tissue in the human body. However, in the laboratory, only certain types are reprogrammed, such as fibroblasts or skin cells.
After cloning Dolly, in 2007 scientist Shinya Yamanaka learned how to transform normal cells into stem cells, capable of transforming into any type of cell in less time. This procedure took 50 days and used a molecule called the Yamanaka factor.
In addition, scientists at the Babraham Institute have created a new methodology. In this case, the fibroblasts were exposed to these factors only for 13 days. As a result, they lose aging markers but maintain skin cell function.
Then they looked for changes in markers of aging (some chemical and genetic characteristics). By these measurements, the observed cells were similar in appearance and function to cells from 23-year-olds.
Currently, the technology cannot be tested clinically because it increases the risk of cancer. However, scientists believe that, as technology advances, it will be possible to use it to improve the quality of life of the elderly.