The journal PNAS notes that a study conducted by a scientific team from the University of California, San Francisco, focused on fibroblasts, cells that create and maintain the structural framework (extracellular material) of the body's organs. As we age, the activity of these cells declines, reducing the body's ability to regenerate.
The research team compared how genes function in young versus aging fibroblasts, and used computer analysis to identify a set of about 30 regulatory proteins – transcription factors – that control age-related changes.
Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, scientists modified the activity of these factors in aged fibroblasts. As a result, the cells not only behaved like younger cells (with improved metabolism and cell division), but also exhibited a rejuvenating effect in the living organism.
Experiments showed that raising the level of one of these factors (EZH2) in the livers of 20-month-old mice – roughly equivalent to 65 human years of age – halved liver fibrosis and fat accumulation, and improved glucose tolerance.
The researchers suggest that this discovery could pave the way for developing new ways to combat aging by "reprogramming" the functions of aging cells and stimulating their regeneration.
