Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a protein that could reverse cellular aging in the immune system, showing promise for future treatment of age-related disorders.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize how we understand and treat age-related disorders in the immune system. The study, published in the journal Blood, reveals that a protein called platelet factor 4, which diminishes with age, plays a crucial role in the aging process of blood and immune cells.
The researchers focused on hematopoietic stem cells. These blood stem cells reside in the bone marrow and are responsible for generating both myeloid cells — vital for immune response and oxygen transportation — and lymphoid cells, which fight infections.
As we age, these stem cells gradually shift toward primarily producing myeloid cells, resulting in a weakened immune system.
“Our hematopoietic stem cells are very rare,” Sandra Pinho, an associate professor of pharmacology and regenerative medicine in the College of Medicine, said in a news release. “We call them the Holy Grail of the immune system.”
The researchers discovered that platelet factor 4 serves as a crucial messenger in young bodies, regulating the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.
“When stem cells start to divide more often than they should, and if their proliferation is not regulated, they can accumulate mutations over time,” Pinho added.
In humans, these mutations can lead to inflammation, a higher risk of blood cancers, and cardiovascular disease.
In their experiments with mice and human bone marrow samples, the team found that replenishing platelet factor 4 in older subjects rejuvenated their hematopoietic stem cells. The treated cells started to function as they do in younger individuals.
“It rejuvenated the aging of the blood system,” added Pinho.
While this discovery doesn’t serve as an all-encompassing solution to aging, it opens new avenues for treating age-associated disorders.
“It’s clear evidence that it’s possible to reverse, intrinsically, certain age-associated disorders,” Pinho added.
Source: University of Illinois Chicago