Chinese scientists have developed a new technique to revive old rats by surgically connecting their circulatory systems to young rats; This is a development that sheds more light on the aging process.
The team also worked on developing another technique called heterochronic parabiosis, or HP, that uses the stimulating power of young blood, according to a paper published last month in the journal Stem Cell.
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Although heterotrophic parasympathetic (HP) has been known since the 1950s, scientists, including scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, say that the mechanism behind how young blood returns the aging body to a “Youthful state” remains a mystery.
The aging process involves systemic degeneration of various tissues and organs and is characterized by a gradual decrease in the body’s ability to regenerate and a functional decline.
In the new study, scientists are investigating the effects of this technique at the single-cell level in mice, leading to the creation of a comprehensive atlas of heterogenous parabiotics (HP) and senescence.
To determine the underlying mechanisms of aging and regeneration from this method, they isolated and compared more than 164,000 single cells in seven organs over five years.
The research revealed cellular and molecular changes in adult and young rats with single cell resolution.
The scientists discovered that exposure to aged blood can accelerate the aging of various organs, tissues and cell types in a young rat, while exposure to young blood can rejuvenate older rats.
They say the changes occur by targeting unidentified stem cells and their niche in aging tissue.
Scientists have shown that adult stem cells constantly renew themselves with the support of nearby or special cells to protect the body’s cells and repair age-related damage.
The team discovered that hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells (HSPCs), the stem cells that make blood and other immune cells, are among the most sensitive cells in young blood.
“Most previous studies have only demonstrated regenerative phenomena and have not adequately revealed the underlying mechanisms,” Ma Shuai, the study’s lead author, told Science and Technology Daily of China.
It also sheds light on key factors mediating effects on hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells and on their cellular targets.
The scientists say the results of the latest study provide important clues for further research into potential targets and treatments for aging intervention.
“Our work is developing a viable resource for mining to advance our understanding of the systematic factors associated with aging and how they can be targeted to reduce aging,” the team wrote in the paper.
But scientists say young blood alone may not be an effective remedy with procedures such as heterotrophic parasympathetic (HP) regeneration.
But they say these “vampire” techniques may shed more light on ancient blood inhibitors that may target slowing aging.
In another study published in March, scientists reversed the signs of aging in middle-aged and older rats. In this study, the scientists partially reset the tissues of the rats to the younger state using a mixture of molecules in senescent cells.
Source: Independent
Source: Arabic RT
