Epigenetic modifications to DNA, gene expression, and cell function all change for the worse in stem cells in old tissues. Researchers here show that putting old hematopoietic stem cells into a young tissue environment acts to reverse many of these changes to the transcriptome, the manufacture of RNA that is the first stage of gene expression, but has far less benefit when it comes to epigenetic changes and loss of cell function. Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression, and gene expression determines cell behavior, so it is interesting to see such a divergence in outcomes betwee…
Old Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplanted into Young Bone Marrow Do Not Regain Function
Epigenetic modifications to DNA, gene expression, and cell function all change for the worse in stem cells in old tissues. Researchers here show that putting old hematopoietic stem cells into a young tissue environment acts to reverse many of these changes to the transcriptome, the manufacture of RNA that is the first stage of gene expression, but has far less benefit when it comes to epigenetic changes and loss of cell function. Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression, and gene expression determines cell behavior, so it is interesting to see such a divergence in outcomes betwee…