Aging, Rejuvenation, and Epigenetic Reprogramming: Resetting the Aging Clock

Over time, exposure to an inflammatory milieu might induce epigenetic modifications that alter expression of genes needed for growth, survival, or differentiation.

“For example, over time exposure to an inflammatory milieu might induce epigenetic modifications that affect the expression of genes required for growth, survival, or differentiation (89,90).”

Many molecular signatures of aging including stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular signaling, and loss of genome integrity are reversed by heterochronic parabiosis, suggesting epigenome and gene expression could also be restored.

“Many of the molecular signatures of aging, including stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular signaling, and a loss of genome integrity, are reversed in an old mouse as a result of heterochronic parabiosis, suggesting that the epigenome and gene expression could also be restored to a more youthful state by this treatment (Rando and Chang, 2012; Sinha et al., 2014)”

An old nucleus can become pluripotent and youthful again after fertilization, and this can be mimicked by nuclear transfer or induced pluripotency.

“The ability of an old nucleus to become pluripotent and youthful again is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of fertilization and that can be mimicked in the lab through nuclear transfer or by inducing pluripotency through the expression of particular transcription factors (Rando and Chang, 2012).”

A therapeutic restoring the regulatory landscape could have far-reaching impact in slowing or reversing aging.

“a therapeutic that restores the regulatory landscape could have a far-reaching impact in slowing or reversing the progression of aging (Rando and Chang, 2012).”

The ability of interventions not only to slow the rate of aging but actually to rejuvenate cells and tissues seemingly by reversing aging processes expands the spectrum of healthspan-promoting treatments.

“Furthermore, the ability of interventions not only to slow the rate of aging but actually to rejuvenate cells and tissues seemingly by reversing aging processes expands the spectrum of healthspan-promoting treatments.79,80,81,82,83”