A collaborative study involving researchers from Lund Stem Cell Center (Sweden) and University College London (UK) has identified a novel method of isolating ‘young’ stem cells present in old mice.

Their research demonstrates that activity of mitochondria may be a stronger indicator of stem cell fitness than age.

The research, which has been published in Cell Stem Cell, compared the mitochondrial activity of stem cells from old and young mice by looking at mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

The investigators reported that although they observed a general decrease in mitochondrial activity of stem cells with age, they did discover a small population of aged stem cells (10–15%) that had a MMP similar to that of young stem cells. This population of stem cells exhibited a gene expression profile that was different to those of aged stem cells displaying low mitochondrial activity, but very similar to that of young stem cells.

“We then performed transplantation studies with stem cells isolated from aged mice treated with mitoquinol (mito-Q), a drug that increases MMP,” explained first author of the study, Els Mansell (Lund University and University College London).

When stimulating the mitochondrial activity of aged stem cells, the team observed that they behaved like young stem cells, re-establishing the blood system more effectively than stem cells that are harvested from untreated aged mice.

The researchers also highlighted that targeting mitochondrial activity had clinical potential for the treatment of age-related blood disease. By providing both middle-aged and old mice with mito-Q, they were able to prevent the imbalance of mature blood cells and anemia associated with aging.

“Our findings prove that MMP is a novel indicator of the physiological age of stem cells, regardless if they are from young or old mice, and importantly, that MMP of stem cells is novel therapeutic target that can directly impact stem cell function,” concluded Mansell.

Link:https://www.regmednet.com/young-stem-cells-identified-in-old-mice-using-a-new-approach/