Researchers have reversed ageing in human skin cells by 30 years, according to a new study.
Scientists say they have developed a method to reprogramme human skin cells rewinding the ageing clock without the cells losing their function.
US researchers describe being able to partly restore the function of older cells in a lab.
In experiments that simulated a skin wounds partially rejuvenated cells showed signs of behaving more like youthful cells.
Experts suggest that the research may lead to new drugs.
Professor Wolf Reik, a group leader at the Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, said: “This work has very exciting implications.
“Eventually, we may be able to identify genes that rejuvenate without reprogramming, and specifically target those to reduce the effects of ageing.
“This approach holds promise for valuable discoveries that could open up an amazing therapeutic horizon.”
Co-author Dr Diljeet Gill said: “Our results represent a big step forward in our understanding of cell reprogramming.
“We have proved that cells can be rejuvenated without losing their function and that rejuvenation looks to restore some function to old cells.
“The fact that we also saw a reverse of ageing indicators in genes associated with diseases is particularly promising for the future of this work.”
The new method based on the technique scientists use to make stem cells, overcomes the problem of completely erasing cell identity by stopping reprogramming part of the way through the process.
This allowed researchers to make cells biologically younger while still being able to retain their specialised cell function.
They say the potential applications of this technique are dependent on the cells not only appearing younger but functioning like young cells too.
The research is published in the journal eLife.
