Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
09:14
Evaluation of Injury-induced Senescence and In Vivo Reprogramming in the Skeletal Muscle
Published on: October 26, 2017
9.7K
Cellular reprogramming and epigenetic rejuvenation
Daniel J Simpson1, Nelly N Olova2, Tamir Chandra3
1MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK. s1684303@sms.ed.ac.uk.
Clinical Epigenetics
|September 7, 2021
Summary
Scientists explore epigenetic rejuvenation to reverse ageing without losing cell identity. This strategy uses Yamanaka factors to potentially reduce biological age safely, offering a new anti-ageing approach.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Ageing is an inevitable biological process affecting all humans.
- Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cells suggest age reversal may be possible.
- Current reprogramming methods often involve complete dedifferentiation, losing original cell identity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development of epigenetic rejuvenation as an anti-ageing strategy.
- To explore the potential of reprogramming-induced rejuvenation.
- To separate the benefits of reprogramming from dedifferentiation.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on reprogramming and epigenetic rejuvenation.
- Analysis of Yamanaka factor applications in transient reprogramming.
- Discussion of strategies to prevent full dedifferentiation.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic rejuvenation offers a promising approach to combat ageing.
- Transient expression of Yamanaka factors can induce rejuvenation without complete dedifferentiation.
- This strategy holds potential for safely reducing biological age.
Conclusions:
- Reprogramming-induced rejuvenation is a developing anti-ageing strategy.
- Separating rejuvenation from dedifferentiation is key to its therapeutic potential.
- Further research is needed to optimize and validate these anti-ageing methods.
Keywords:
AgeingCellular reprogrammingEpigenetic ageEpigenetic clocksRejuvenationReprogramming-induced rejuvenationTransient reprogrammingMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
2.3K
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012...
2.3K
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
1.9K
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for...
1.9K
01:14Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
2.1K
Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...
2.1K
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
2.7K
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular...
2.7K
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
2.0K
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
2.0K
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
1.9K
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
1.9K