Development of 'Cell Rejuvenation' Reverse Aging Technology

Development of Rejuvenation Technology through Systems Biology Research
New Strategies for Extending Healthy Lifespan and Preventing Age-Related Diseases

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A fundamental anti-aging technology that reverses aged cells back to young cells has been developed. Utilizing this technology is expected to enable the development of treatments that can prevent aging phenomena or suppress various geriatric diseases.

The research team led by Professor Kwanghyun Cho from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 26th that they have developed an initial fundamental technology for reversing aged human dermal fibroblasts back to normal young cells. The results of this study were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

PDK1, the Cause of Aging

Schematic Diagram of Simulation Analysis of Cellular Senescence Signaling Network Model in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Through systems biology research methods, the team identified a key regulatory factor capable of reverting aged human dermal fibroblasts to normal young cells. After four years of research, they discovered PDK1, a master regulator that simultaneously controls mTOR, which regulates protein synthesis and cell growth, and NF-kB, which is involved in the production of immune cytokines.

The team also demonstrated that inhibiting PDK1 can revert aged human dermal fibroblasts back to normal young cells. PDK1 activates mTOR and NF-kB in aged human dermal fibroblasts, inducing senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and maintaining senescent traits. Consequently, when PDK1 was inhibited, cellular senescence markers disappeared, and the cells regained function as normal cells that appropriately respond to their surrounding environment. This proved that inhibiting PDK1 can safely restore cells to their original normal young state. These research results were obtained through an aging artificial skin model developed for the first time via industry-academic joint research with Amorepacific Corporation’s Technology Research Institute.

Reversing Aging

Experimental Verification Using a 3D Skin Analog Model

The research team expects that new drug development related to low-molecular-weight compounds capable of inhibiting the activity of the target protein identified in this study will be possible. In fact, Amorepacific Corporation’s Technology Research Institute is developing cosmetics that improve wrinkles in aged skin by extracting PDK1 inhibitory components from camellia extract based on these research results.

Professor Kwanghyun Cho stated, "We have shown the possibility of reversing aging, which has long been recognized as an irreversible biological phenomenon," adding, "This research opens a new era that recognizes aging as a reversible biological phenomenon and actively addresses it to extend healthy lifespan and prevent geriatric diseases."

Meanwhile, the research team succeeded in January in reverting colon cancer cells back to normal colon cells by applying the same technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.