A photo from open sources
Work on creating treatment procedures that can rejuvenate parts of the human body, moved to a new level thanks new research.
For the first time, scientists from the University of Edinburgh succeeded regenerate a living organ. The team reconfigured the thymus (thymus gland) – an organ located near the heart and producing important immune cells.
Researchers restarted the natural mechanism, which with age begins to work worse, and thus rejuvenated the thymus is very old mice. After a course of “treatment” the renewed organ had a structure similar to that of the thymus of a very young animal.
What is very important, not only the appearance of the thymus was restored the gland, but also its function: the body of mice began to produce more T-cells – cells that are important for fighting the infection. Nonetheless, it is not yet clear whether overall immune system function has improved rodents.
Researchers rejuvenated the thymus with a special protein under called FOXN1, produced by its cells. This connection helps control the “inclusion” of important genes that control organ function. By increasing the content of FOXN1, a team of scientists was able reconfigure thymic cells.
The structure of the human thymus
A photo from open sources
“Our results show that such actions can improve thymus function in humans. This will increase immunity. elderly patients and people with weakened immune systems, – says Clare Blackburn, Center professor regenerative medicine. – However, before checking the effectiveness of this mechanism in humans, more needs to be done work to ensure complete control of the process. ”
Thymus begins to work worse with age, which is why older people often become more susceptible to infections (e.g. flu). This discovery may also give hope to patients with damaged immune system and with Di Georgi syndrome – a genetic disease that prevents the thymus from developing properly.
The results of the study also show that the goals regenerative medicine may well be achieved enough simple means. For example, the manipulation of just one protein. It is possible that in the near future there will be technologies that will allow to use their own protective mechanisms for treatment human body that in vivo by for some reason do not work.
