FEBS lettersJun 15, 2019

How cells renew and restore themselves

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 8, 2026

Abstract

Cellular reprogramming may erase most, if not all, aging hallmarks.

Aging causes changes at both organismal and cellular levels.
The mechanisms of cellular aging in mammals are not well understood.
Some aging factors have been identified in model organisms, but their roles in mammals remain unclear.
Reprogramming old cells into different cell types retains many signs of aging.
Comparing cellular reprogramming and direct reprogramming could provide new insights into rejuvenation.

Simplified

Aging leads to changes on an organismal but also cellular level. However, the exact mechanisms of cellular aging in mammals remain poorly understood and the identity and functional role of aging factors, some of which have previously been defined in model organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, remain elusive. Remarkably, during cellular reprogramming most if not all aging hallmarks are erased, offering a novel entry point to study aging and rejuvenation on a cellular level. On the other hand, direct reprogramming of old cells into cells of a different fate preserves many aging signs. Therefore, investigating the process of reprogramming and comparing it to direct reprogramming may yield novel insights about the clearing of aging factors, which is the basis of rejuvenation. Here, we discuss how reprogramming might lead to rejuvenation of a cell, an organ, or even the whole organism.

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How cells renew and restore themselves

Abstract

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