Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered that stem cells' unique method of discarding misfolded proteins could hold the key to preserving long-term health and avoiding illness. As humans continue their search for the fountain of youth, stem cells keep emerging as a key player in the
Stem cells taking out the trash. This illustration is from Emma Vidal of DrawImpacts. Credit: Emma Vidal
discovered that blood stem cells employ a surprising technique to eliminate their misfolded proteins. The researchers found that this process decreases with age and believe that boosting this specialized garbage disposal system could help fend off age-related illnesses. “Stem cells are in it for the long haul,” said senior study author Robert Signer, Ph.D., associate professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “Their need for longevity requires them to be wired differently than all the short-lived cells in the body.”
In most cells, damaged or misfolded proteins get individually tagged for disposal. A mobile protein destroyer called the proteasome then finds the labeled proteins and breaks them down into their original aminocomponents. But in the new study, the researchers found proteasome activity was especially low in HSCs.
“What’s very unusual here is this pathway was thought to only be triggered as an extreme stress response, but it’s actually the normal physiological pathway that’s used by stem cells,” said Signer. “This emphasizes how critical it is for stem cells to prevent stress so they can preserve their health and longevity.”
When the researchers genetically disabled the aggrephagy pathway, the stem cells started to accumulate aggregated protein, which impaired their fitness, longevity and regenerative activity.
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