Transcriptomics: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-8936
ISSN: 2329-8936
Yunlong Qin
Accepted Abstracts: Transcriptomics
Aging in humans is irreversible, characterized by a decline of physiological functions in various organs and tissues, leading to multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change, causing most human diseases and an increasing probability of death. The antagonistic pleiotropy theory and competing model of senescence explain the aging occurrence of some physiological functions of human body from different angles. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genome suggest the individualâ??s difference of aging process is associated with SNPs-related individualâ??s sensitivity to diseases. As the naturally occurring DNA damages and age-associated accumulation of DNA damage as well as decline in gene expression regulation indicate individual life expectancy, whereas the shortening mechanism of telomeric terminals of chromosomes and Hayflick limit of cell division determine human life span. The genomic aging exerts impact on various physiological functions, also imprints individualâ??s appearance, such as wrinkled, thinning skin, graying and loss of hair. Recently, the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent and the development of rehabilitative and regenerative medicine rekindle spark in hope of humans against aging. The induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine because each individual could have their own pluripotent stem cell line and these unlimited supplies of autologous cells bypass bodyâ??s immune defense system, immune rejection, this will be a new milestone in transplantation medicine, one of the most challenging and complex areas of modern medicine. Nowadays, iPSCs are mainly used in medical research, including organ synthesis, disease modeling of cellular basis and drug development, tissue repair in animal model. Here is an opinion regarding the possibility and feasibility of iPSCs application in gerontology. In comparison to the complexity and difficulty of synthesizing other organs or systems through iPSCs, there is great advantage for iPSCs being applied into the immune system, the functions of which are mainly carried out by immune cells, same as red blood cells, these immune cells travel to everywhere of human body. The application of cell levels of iPSCs is more reliable and easier in technology. The aging process accompanies gradual deterioration of the immune system. This age-associated immune deficiency is ubiquitous, decreasing hostâ??s capacity to respond to infections, increasing individualâ??s sensitivity to most human diseases, including autoimmune disorders. The functional capacity of T-cells is most influenced by the effects of aging. Since all the blood cells come from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) of bone marrow, no matter what age you are, but these freshly produced immune cells from aging body are still senescent. Comparing to the cord blood stem cells, unlimited supplies of iPSCs will have more attractive application prospect once its safety is more reliable and accepted and more mature in technology. There is an expectation to help elderly people re-establish a strong immune system to resist the attack of pathogens including bacteria and viruses and make them live in a higher level of health state. Interestingly, recently, type O red blood cells were synthesized at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from iPSCs. Type O can be transfused into all patients, this is unprecedented brilliance in the transfusion history considering more than 100 million blood donations are collected globally every year.
Yunlong Qin works at Morehouse School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Program as a senior researcher.