Scientists from the Scripps Institute for Scientific Research in the United States have found that as a person ages, the number of mutations in his induced pluripotent stem cells (PSC) increases. These results indicate the need to analyze cells for the presence of potentially harmful mutations. The researchers presented their findings in an article published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. The publication EurekAlert! Tells briefly about the work.
Induced pluripotent stem cells, which are obtained from cells by reprogramming them, can grow into any tissue other than the placenta and yolk sac. This feature allows them to be used for transplantation to patients suffering, for example, from diseases of the hematopoietic system.
The researchers found that with each stem cell division, the likelihood of harmful mutations increases. For example, in PSCs extracted from people over 80 years old, there were twice as many genetic changes in the DNA coding for proteins than in cells belonging to donors aged 20 years. In people over 90, however, there were not many mutations. Scientists attribute this to the fact that the PSK remaining in the elderly are more protected from unwanted genetic changes than those that died from them.
According to geneticists, therapy with induced stem cells is already being carried out in Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to fully understand how the donor's age can affect the results of the transplant.