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Scientists have managed to rejuvenate the old body
Work on the creation of therapeutic treatments that will rejuvenate parts of the human body, moved to a new level thanks to a new study. For the first time, scientists from the University of Edinburgh has succeeded in regenerating a living organ. The team reconfigured the thymus (thymus gland) − body, located near the heart that produces important immune cells.
The researchers reactivated a natural mechanism, which with age begins to work less, and thus rejuvenated the thymus of very old mice. After a course of "treatment" renewed body had a structure similar to the structure of the thymus in young animal.
Very importantly, he recovered not only the appearance of the thymus, but its function: the mice began to produce more T-white blood cells – cells important for fighting infection. However, it is not clear whether it has improved the overall immune system of rodents.
Researchers have rejuvenated the thymus using a particular protein called FOXN1 produced by cells. This compound helps control the "enable" important genes that control the function of the body. Increasing the content of FOXN1, the team of scientists were able to reconfigure the cells of the thymus.
"Our results show that such actions can improve the function of the thymus gland in humans. This will increase the immunity of elderly patients and people with a weakened immune system, says Clare Blackburn (Blackburn Clare), Professor at the Centre for regenerative medicine. – However, before you can check the effectiveness of this mechanism in the people, need to do more work to ensure full control over the process."
With age, the thymus starts to work worse, so older people often become more sensitive to infections (e.g. flu). This discovery may also give hope to patients with a damaged immune system and Georgie syndrome DiGeorge syndrome – a genetic disorder that does not allow the thymus to develop properly.
The results of the study also show that the goals of regenerative medicine may be achieved by quite simple means. For example, manipulation of just one protein. It is possible that in the near future there will be technologies that will allow the use for the treatment of natural protective mechanisms of the human body, which under natural conditions for some reason are not working.
Source: brainswork.ru
The researchers reactivated a natural mechanism, which with age begins to work less, and thus rejuvenated the thymus of very old mice. After a course of "treatment" renewed body had a structure similar to the structure of the thymus in young animal.
Very importantly, he recovered not only the appearance of the thymus, but its function: the mice began to produce more T-white blood cells – cells important for fighting infection. However, it is not clear whether it has improved the overall immune system of rodents.
Researchers have rejuvenated the thymus using a particular protein called FOXN1 produced by cells. This compound helps control the "enable" important genes that control the function of the body. Increasing the content of FOXN1, the team of scientists were able to reconfigure the cells of the thymus.
"Our results show that such actions can improve the function of the thymus gland in humans. This will increase the immunity of elderly patients and people with a weakened immune system, says Clare Blackburn (Blackburn Clare), Professor at the Centre for regenerative medicine. – However, before you can check the effectiveness of this mechanism in the people, need to do more work to ensure full control over the process."
With age, the thymus starts to work worse, so older people often become more sensitive to infections (e.g. flu). This discovery may also give hope to patients with a damaged immune system and Georgie syndrome DiGeorge syndrome – a genetic disorder that does not allow the thymus to develop properly.
The results of the study also show that the goals of regenerative medicine may be achieved by quite simple means. For example, manipulation of just one protein. It is possible that in the near future there will be technologies that will allow the use for the treatment of natural protective mechanisms of the human body, which under natural conditions for some reason are not working.
Source: brainswork.ru
