Regenerative Genes Boost Stem Cell Function in Aging Flies
University of Tokyo researchers have made a surprising discovery in the field of regenerative medicine. By transferring genes from highly regenerative animals into fruit flies, they’ve improved intestinal stem cell function and potentially extended healthy lifespans in these insects.
The study, published in BMC Biology, focused on genes unique to animals with remarkable regenerative abilities, such as flatworms and jellyfish. These genes, called highly regenerative species-specific JmjC domain-encoding genes (HRJDs), were introduced into fruit flies to test their effects.
While the modified flies didn’t gain superhero-like healing powers, researchers observed significant improvements in their gut health as they aged. The HRJDs promoted greater intestinal stem cell division while suppressing problematic cells in older flies.
Associate Professor Yuichiro Nakajima, who led the study, explained, “In animals capable of whole-body regeneration, specific genes may help allow regeneration and maintain long-term stem cell functions. Conversely, mammals and insects, which have limited regenerative abilities, may have lost these genes during evolution.”
Unexpected Findings and Future Possibilities
The research team initially hoped to see tissue regeneration in injured flies. Instead, Hiroki Nagai, an expert in fruit fly intestines, noticed something different. “Nagai discovered some novel phenotypes,” Nakajima said. “HRJDs promoted greater intestinal stem cell division, whilst also suppressing intestinal cells that were mis-differentiating, or going wrong in aged flies.”
This discovery is particularly intriguing because it addresses age-related decline without the drawbacks of other treatments. For example, antibiotics can suppress problematic intestinal cells but also inhibit stem cell division. The HRJDs, however, promoted stem cell activity while tackling age-related issues.
The implications of this research extend beyond fruit flies. Human intestinal stem cells also decrease in activity with age, and there are surprising similarities between insect and human intestines at the cellular level. This makes fruit flies valuable models for studying stem cell rejuvenation.
“This is just the start of the journey, but we know now that our modified fruit flies can serve as a valuable resource to uncover unprecedented mechanisms of stem cell rejuvenation in the future,” Nakajima added.
Why it matters: This research opens new avenues for developing anti-aging treatments that could extend healthy lifespans by maintaining stem cell function. It also demonstrates the potential of studying genes from highly regenerative species to unlock rejuvenation mechanisms in more complex organisms.
The study faced challenges, including the time-consuming nature of aging research in fruit flies, which takes about two months. Despite these obstacles, the results provide a strong foundation for future investigations.
Many questions remain unanswered. “Details of the molecular workings of HRJDs are still unresolved. And it’s unclear whether they work alone or in combination with some other component,” Nakajima noted. Future research will aim to uncover these mechanisms and explore potential applications in more complex organisms.
As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of regeneration and aging, this study offers a promising new direction. The potential for developing therapies to extend healthy lifespans and improve quality of life in aging populations is an exciting prospect that merits further exploration.
