Anti-aging breakthrough: Stem cells reverse signs of aging in monkeys

Summary

Chinese scientists have genetically engineered stem cells capable of rejuvenating the health, including the cognition, of aged macaque Key Points: “Super stem cells” improve the memory of monkeys while protecting against neurodegeneration. The super stem cells prevent age-related bone loss while rejuvenating over 50% of the 61 tissues analyzed. Treatment with stem cells reduces inflammation and senescent cells (cells that accumulate to promote aging). While small in number, our adult stem cells play a crucial role in regenerating our lost or damaged tissues, rebuilding our body cell by cell. However, with age, our bodies become riddled with inflammation, hardly providing an environment capable of keeping our stem cells healthy. Eventually, our stem cells lose their regenerative capacity, contributing to degenerative aging. Fox, O, Three Hydra are a genus of immortal beings that live forever in freshwater environments like lakes and ponds. What scientists have called “nothing but an active stem cell community,” Hydra can escape death by infinitely regenerating. Their stem cells can continuously proliferate and renew by producing FoxO, a protein they share with humans. (Image: aip.org) The Immortal Hydra. In humans, the FoxO protein, specifically the FoxO3 isoform, responds to cellular stress by binding to DNA and turning genes on and off. These genes are involved in numerous cellular processes that promote healthy aging and extended lifespan. This is why the FoxO3 protein’s corresponding gene, FOXO3, is considered a longevity gene. Experimenting with SRCs As FoxO3 assists cells in resisting stressful environments, such as inflamed tissue, Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers engineered human stem cells to have enhanced FoxO3 activity. As published in Cell, these senescence-resistant stem cells (SRCs) were designed to exhibit greater resistance to age-related stress. To test this, cynomolgus monkeys, also known as crab-eating macaques, were first stratified into fo...