Scientists from the University at Buffalo have reversed the hallmarks of muscle cell aging by overexpression of a specific protein, known as NANOG. The findings show how the protein can achieve the reversal without reprogramming the cells to a more stem cell-like state. This has been the most common approach to cellular aging reversal in the past.

A Protein to Reverse Muscle Cell Aging

The study’s corresponding author Professor Stelios T. Andreadis has stated that the work of his team was focused on understanding the mechanisms of NANOG’s actions to discover druggable targets in signaling or metabolic networks that can mimic the anti-aging effects of the protein. Cellular senescence is known to happen during aging and, eventually, it leads to cells reaching a point where they can’t divide and repair anymore. This leads to genetic material in the cells becoming unstable and causing an array of metabolic and molecular dysfunction that causes disease. As a consequence, the ability of the body to regenerate decreases over time. However, this new study has shown how things may not be that bad.

Increasing the Number of Muscle Stem Cells

Scientists could reverse age-related muscle cell deterioration and even increase their DNA repair mechanisms. They did that by overexpressing a protein called NANOG in senescent human myoblasts, which is the embryonic precursor for muscle cells. Moreover, in experiments with animals, NANOG overexpressed in prematurely aging mice showed a major increase in the number of muscle stem cells present. This meant that NANOG may have rejuvenating properties and could be used in the future to help reverse the aging process.

Stelios Andreadis also said that the work they were doing could help scientists develop new treatments or therapies that would help reverse cellular senescence. This could be of great aid to the many people around the world who suffer from age-related disorders. In the pursuit to halt and reverse aging, many strides have been made in recent years. This year, one study even showed that a supplement could promote healthier aging and reverse some of the hallmarks of old age.

A cobalt mine in Cheshire, England, was recently uncovered by members of the Derbyshire Caving Club. It seems that the mine had operated in the early 19th century and was since then sealed off from oxygen, making it a time capsule for the artifacts of the workers who abandoned it one day. This discovery will shed a brighter light on what mining was 200 years ago.

The 19th Century Mine Was Discovered in Pristine Condition

The town of Alderly Edge has been a known mining destination ever since the Bronze Age, and the caving club that discovered the mine has found other mines in the past as well. However, this newly-discovered one was reportedly in pristine condition because it hadn’t been disturbed by later mining. According to a National Trust archaeologist, the mine hadn’t been broken into nor filled with bottles or other garbage. That makes it a literal time capsule when it comes to giving a glimpse of the environment that the miners of the time had to endure while extracting cobalt.

There were many artifacts typical of the time found in the mine, including clay pipes, shoes, and a type of winch used to lift heavy objects called windlass. The miners’ fingerprints could still be seen on clay candle holders, and there was an imprint of one person’s corduroy pants from when he leaned against a wall. Another miner had left his initials on the roof using candle soot.

The Mine Had Interesting Artifacts and Roof Drawings in It

One other mysterious find was a bowl with a rock wall built around it. The National Trust has speculated that miners may have done some kind of a ritual with the bowl as a superstitious gesture of gratitude. However, this hypothesis might be wrong because other experts believe the bowl could’ve been part of a friendly joke.

Experts cannot be certain why the workers abandoned the site of this mine, but the tools they left behind show they may not have received much notice. It seems the mine closed around 1810, at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Now, to preserve the mine and its contents, experts will seal the entrance once again after allowing experts to do a 3D scan and create a model for people to explore online.