Rejuvenated, but not quite
Scientists failed to rejuvenate blood stem cells of adult mice
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
Japanese scientists managed to only partially rejuvenate the stem cells of adult mice in the body of younger individuals – gene expression has changed, but cell functions have not recovered. Their discovery is of great importance for the development of methods for the treatment of age-related blood diseases.
Article by Kuribayashi et al. Limited rejuvenation of aged hematopoietic stem cells in young bone marrow niche published in Journal of Experimental Medicine – VM.
Researchers from The University of Tokyo planned to find out whether it is possible to rejuvenate hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by moving them into the bone marrow of younger mice. HSCs located in the bone marrow are the precursors of all blood cells, but with age, the function and characteristics of the cells change. So, in the elderly, the ability to produce blood cells decreases, their differentiation is disrupted, therefore, for example, there is a risk of developing myeloid tumors.
The microenvironment in the bone marrow is necessary to maintain HSCs, so scientists hoped to rejuvenate aging HSCs in a younger environment.
The first experiments showed that after the transfer of aging HSCs to a younger environment, gene expression became more similar to gene expression in young rodents.
On the other hand, cell function was not restored in the body of young mice. After being in the environment of a younger bone marrow, the cells were still less able to divide and differentiate. As part of the experiment, scientists transplanted cells of 20-month-old rodents to 8-week-old mice. Their condition was assessed after two months.
This experience allowed scientists to make the first conclusion that a simple transfer of cells to a more favorable environment will not improve their function. Further more detailed analysis will allow us to find out other mechanisms that affect the function of aging HSCs, the authors are sure.
"Our work clarifies the effect of aging on HSC and will contribute to the development of new methods of treatment of age–related blood diseases," concluded the author of the study Atsushi Iwama.
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