Scientists claim 'iPS technology' turns back the clock on ageing by 30 years

While it is still in the early stages of research, Kosé's technology claims to have taken 30 years off the life of skin samples from a 67-year-old man using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to recover the length of telomeres.

Telomeres are present at the ends of chromosomes and are well known as an indicator of ageing. In this instance, Kosé focused on the recovery of their length in aged cells through initialization​.

Details of the study...​

According to the scientists working on the project, the results showed that fibroblast telomere length decreased over time from 36 to 67 years, but that telomere length recovered in the initialized iPS cells derived from cells at all ages.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University.

"We confirmed that all of the iPS cells obtained have the same function regardless of the age. This suggests that the signs of ageing within the cells could be erased through the initialization process and donor age did not affect the function of the iPS cells."​

iPS cells were first discovered in 2006 by Prof. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for this work.

Experts reckon that iPS cells and re-differentiated cells will also provide novel tools for research into ageing, as well as the fields of skin physiological functions, cosmetic ingredient assays, and alternatives to animal testing. 

In the years to come, Kosé hopes gene-level research will provide a better understanding of the initializing process in iPS cells and will contribute to ageing studies.

Industry also progresses in stem cells area​

This year's Chanel 'CE.R.I.E.S.' award that honors global research in the area of healthy skin and/or its reactions to environmental factors has been scooped up by Japan's Emi Nishimura M.D., Ph.D.

Professor Nishimura has been awarded for a project that could lead to new preventative measures that delays the signs of ageing.

The Chair of the stem cell biology department at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan aims to further elucidate the mechanisms of skin ageing and their application to skin regeneration and rejuvenation.

"This project will employ sophisticated genetic and imaging techniques to monitor the fate of so-called stem cells in skin and hair follicles and to determine their response to environmental stress and ageing,​" explains Professor Gilchrest, president of the CE.R.I.E.S. Scientific Advisory Board. 

Established in 1996, this Award has been supporting 'outstanding' skin research projects to enrich the industry's understanding of the skin with new findings around the globe.