German scientists rejuvenated cells of a 101-year-old person in the laboratory
Researchers from Bonn and Aachen studied a method that significantly reduces the epigenetic age of human cells. The experiment was conducted on blood samples from 15 volunteers aged from newborn to 101 years, reports Euronews.
Scientists used two genes—SOX2 and cMYC—to convert erythroid progenitor cells into neural stem cells, from which brain cells can form. After approximately 50 days of cultivation in the laboratory, most epigenetic signs of aging disappeared.
According to the assessment based on epigenetic markers, the age of the resulting cells initially amounted to about 13% of the donors' age, and with further cultivation, it decreased to less than 5%.
Researchers believe that the technology will help study the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, rejuvenation was achieved only outside the human body. Developing a treatment based on this method is still far off.
