Stem Cells Combat Aging by Clearing Out Trash.
Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered that stem cells use a unique method to discard misfolded proteins, which decreases with age and could be a key factor in age-related illnesses. The study focused on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which produce new blood and immune cells throughout our lives. The researchers found that HSCs use a different system to dispose of damaged and misfolded proteins, called aggrephagy, which involves collecting and trafficking them into clusters called aggresomes before being collectively destroyed by the lysosome. Boosting this specialized garbage disposal system could help preserve stem cell fitness during aging and mitigate blood and immune disorders.
