Research on Cell Aging Based on Reprogramming Senescent Cells by Inhibiting Pro-Inflammatory TNF/Edn1 Pathway as a Potential Treatment of Age-Related Diseases

Aging is the process of progressive cellular senescence(definition) and tissue degeneration that eventually leads to organismal death. This degeneration manifests itself in the forms of various age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. Although initially believed to be the inevitable final fate of human life, mounting evidence demonstrate the possibility to extend lifespan and decelerate the process of aging. From these observations, the question of whether aging can be reversed through cellular rejuvenation inspires further research. In humans, germline cells activate a natural program of rejuvenation in fertilization events, suggesting the possibility of cellular age reversal. While the nuance of the underlying mechanism is unclear, reprogramming the epigenome during aging seems to play central role.This project aims to identify candidate age reprogramming genes as alternatives to OSKM through directly comparing senescent and young cells (with gene expression data from human bone marrow-derived stromal cells, mouse retinal ganglion cells, and mouse fibroblasts).