A study from the University at Buffalo shows that the human NANOG protein can reverse aging in skeletal muscle cells
The following written content from Cory Nealon
The research could help in the treatment of atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and other age-related disorders
A University at Buffalo-led research team has shown that a protein named for the mythical land of youth in Irish folklore is effective in reversing aging in skeletal muscle cells.
published in science advanceThe study centers on the protein NANOG, which is derived from Tir na Noug, a place in Irish lore known for lasting youth, beauty and health.
“Ultimately, the work could help lead to new treatments or therapies that help reverse cellular senescence, and aid the many people suffering from age-related disorders. ”Stelios T. Andreadis, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
In a series of experiments, researchers overexpressed NANOG in myoblasts, which are embryonic precursors for muscle tissue. Myoblasts were old, meaning they were no longer able to divide and develop.
Overexpression ameliorated some of the primary features associated with age-related decline of cells, including autophagy, energy homeostasis, genomic stability, nuclear integrity and mitochondrial function.
Most notably, NANOG increased the number of muscle stem cells in the muscle of prematurely aging mice. This demonstrated the feasibility of reversing cellular aging in the body without the need to reprogram cells to an embryonic pluripotent state, a process that’s often used in stem cell therapy but runs the risk of tumorigenesis.
“Our work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of NANOG’s actions in hopes of discovering druggable targets in signaling or metabolic networks that mimic the anti-aging effects of NANOG. Ultimately, the work could help lead to new treatments or therapies that help reverse cellular senescence, and aid the many people suffering from age-related disorders,” says the study’s corresponding author Stelios Andreadis, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Aging; a Veteran Affairs Biomedical Laboratory Research Development grant; and an Indian Trail Charitable Foundation grant. Read more from SUNYBuffalo
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