Has Partial Reprogramming Solved Aging?

Spoiler alert: It hasn't. But Life Biosciences may have an answer.

We all know that Yamanaka Factors can rejuvenate a cell. [2] And we also know there have been problems with this technique including a type of cancer called a teratoma. In fact Altos Labs and Google’s Calico are spending billions to find a safe way to use partial reprogramming.

What’s at stake? Nothing less than a way to rejuvenate the cells of an old person to a young state. A sort of first draft of the fountain of youth perhaps? (Yes, I know there are other issues like atherosclerosis, and DNA damage, yet to be solved, but cellular rejuvenation would be a great start on whole body rejuvenation)

Lifespan.io recently published an article about the Life Biosciences progress in this area. Life Biosciences, co-founded by David Sinclair, has a proprietary reprogramming technology that uses only three out of the four classic Yamanaka reprogramming transcription factors ( Oct4, SOX2, KLF4 ). And the article also mentions movement towards clinical trials in humans!

Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent © The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan

So while Altos, Calico, and others in the field appear to be looking at time-limited reprogramming, or downstream transcription factors, or chemical methods, to overcome the teratoma problem, Life Biosciences believes that fewer Yamanaka Factors may be the recipe for a safer use of these epigenetic reversing transcription factors. When using them this way, the cells appear to keep their identity.

This is very important, because when doing epigenetic age reversal with Yamanaka Factors, the loss of cellular memory of type is the main problem, and leads to teratomas. Ideally, you would like cells to lose the epigenetic marks that mean “I am an old cell” without losing the epigenetic marks that mean “I am a skin cell”. It has been shown that the two effects can be separated, but it is not exactly clear how to do this.

So, while I don’t think we are ready to say that the cellular aging issue has been solved, it does appear that significant progress has been made.

Personally, I wish that someone would announce victory soon, so I can buy the pill.

References:

[1] https://www.lifespan.io/news/life-biosciences-is-bringing-reprogramming-to-the-clinic/

[2] https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2012/yamanaka/facts/

Disclaimer. Last updated November 17, 2024

WEBSITE DISCLAIMER The information provided by this blog ("we," "us," or "our") on johnmarkbryson.substack.com (the "Site") is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SITE OR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SITE. YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND YOUR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION ON THE SITE IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

EXTERNAL LINKS DISCLAIMER The Site may contain (or you may be sent through the Site) links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THE SITE OR ANY WEBSITE OR FEATURE LINKED IN ANY BANNER OR OTHER ADVERTISING. WE WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO OR IN ANY WAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER The Site cannot and does not contain medical/health/legal/scientific/fitness/ humorous advice. The medical/health/legal/scientific/fitness/humorous information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health/ legal/scientific/fitness/humorous advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK