Breakthrough in biotechnology: Blood cells of an 80-year-old rejuvenated to under 20 years of age

German scientists from the University of Bonn and the University Hospital of Bonn reported an unprecedented achievement in the field of biotechnology. In an article published in the journal Aging Cell, researchers described how they managed to reprogram red blood cell precursor cells into stem cells, which can then be converted into neurons. This process allowed the cells' molecular clocks to be completely reset, meaning that their biological age was clearly reversed.

In practice, cells taken from an 80-year-old person were transformed into stem cells with a molecular age of less than 20 years.

New possibilities thanks to biotechnology

Previous research has already made it possible to obtain nerve cells from other types of cells, but this process was usually a two-step process. First, blood cells were transformed into pluripotent stem cells, which were then stimulated to become nerve cells. In this case, cell rejuvenation occurred very quickly and did not allow detailed monitoring of this process.

However, recent research has brought a significant change. We transformed blood cells directly into neural stem cells, i.e. bypassing the pluripotent cell stage. In our approach, rejuvenation occurred gradually and could be monitored for over 100 days - explains Prof. Dr. Oliver Brüstle from the University Hospital Bonn.

Epigenetic molecular clocks – how is cell age measured?

To verify the effectiveness of the rejuvenation process, scientists used the so-called epigenetic molecular clocks. They are based on changes in DNA that occur with age, and do not concern the genetic information itself, but how often it is read by the cell. Thanks to this, the molecular age of cells can be precisely determined.

Importantly, the rejuvenated cells not only showed younger molecular age, but also behaved like young cells.

New perspectives for medicine and neuroscience

Thanks to the fact that cell rejuvenation could be observed for over 100 days, a completely new experimental model was created to study the processes of aging and rejuvenation.

Rejuvenation lasting for such a long time is an ideal experimental model. Because epigenetic clocks are gradually reset over several weeks, we can use this model to study what factors and active substances accelerate or slow down the rejuvenation process, explains Prof. Brustle.

This discovery opens new possibilities for neuroscience and medicine, especially in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

After all, age is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease - reminds the researcher.

German scientists emphasize that their discovery is only the beginning of new research that may in the future revolutionize the approach to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to extending healthy life.