Jellyfish relative regenerates entire body with special stem cells
Scientists from the U.S. National Institutes of Health have figured out how hydractinia "immortality" works. This marine invertebrate regenerates its body using unique stem cells.The researchers sequenced ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the hydractinia. They found a molecular signature similar to that of the aging process at the beginning of the regeneration process. The scientists concluded that initially the healing and aging processes were closely linked. This gave a new perspective on the evolution of aging.
When a small part of the hydractinia remains, let's say the torso, it will grow the whole body anew. The secret lies in special invertebrate stem cells. Such cells are transformed into other types of cells. Moreover, if you separate the hydractinia's mouth from the place where the stem cells are located, it will grow a new body from its mouth only. This means that any cell in her body can become a stem cell. For example, in the human body, stem cells are only used during the development of the organism. Hydractinia-like behavior is observed in many organisms with a high capacity for regeneration. But this mechanism has not been fully investigated.
"This kind of research examining the biology of unusual organisms shows how universal many biological processes are and how much we still have to understand about their functions, interrelationships and evolution," said Charles Rotimi, director of a full-time research program at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. - Findings like these have enormous potential to provide new insights into human biology."
Hydractinia is a small sea creature, a relative of jellyfish and corals. It has a tubular body and lives on hermit crayfish. Humans last shared a common ancestor with hydractinia and its close relatives more than 600 million years ago, and these animals are completely ageless.
Fortunately, by studying some of our most distant animal relatives, we will begin the journey toward unraveling some of the secrets of regeneration and aging - secrets that will ultimately advance the field of regenerative medicine as well as the study of age-related diseases.