For the first time, scientists at Newcastle University, UK, have identified that the activity of a key metabolic enzyme found in the
batteries of human skin cells declines with age.
Professor Rudi Beyaert (VIB / UGent): «We found that pharmacological treatment
of human skin cells with drugs that inhibit the activity of MALT1 reduced the production of inflammation promoting proteins caused by mutant variants of CARD14.
For the first time, scientists at Newcastle University have identified that the activity of a key metabolic enzyme found in the batteries
of human skin cells declines with age.
The replicating lab obtained
samples of the human skin cells used in the original study, which had been engineered to slowly form tumors, and implanted them in mice.
The successful growth
of human skin cells in culture has made it possible to restore epidermis after severe burns and other forms of damage
Gladstone scientist Dr. Sheng Ding has exposed more chameleon - like
qualities of the human skin cell, using chemical cocktails to turn skin cells into fully functional brain, heart, liver, and insulin - producing pancreas cells.
«If we can pinpoint which genes control the development of each neuron type, we can generate them in the petri dish from a single
sample of human skin cells,» said Dr. Huang.
Professor Mark Birch - Machin, Professor of Molecular Dermatology at Newcastle University said: «Because we were able to analyse the full spectrum of UVA and UVB induced sunburnt DNA damage in the
batteries of human skin cells this is an invaluable tool for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries and for anti-aging studies.»