A team of scientists from the Babraham Institute in the United Kingdom claims to have succeeded in rejuvenating the skin cells of a 53-year-old woman by thirty years. They explained their work in a study published on April 8.
The rejuvenated cells would therefore correspond to those of a 23-year-old young woman. The objective of this study published in eLife, was to succeed in dividing stem cells into any type of cell in the body, thanks to adult cells.
“At the cellular level, aging is associated with reduced function, altered gene expression, and a disrupted epigenome,” the study reads. The researchers thus examined skin cells exposed to certain molecules for thirteen days.
With this process, they found that the age-related changes disappeared. The cells subjected to the molecules were exposed to normal conditions. These continued to behave normally on the skin, aging naturally.
In summary, the 53-year-old woman, after agreeing to submit her skin to the method proposed by the scientists, saw her “new” cells continued to behave like those of a young woman of 23, aging normally.
A dangerous technique?
However, this technique involves risks for the skin. Indeed, researchers have admitted that it may increase the risk of cancer, in particular due to the creation of lasting genetic changes in the cells that it generates.
To see how the research evolves and if they allow a safe use of this process. Eventually, this technique could be used to accelerate the healing time of burn victims.