Dmtf1 Up-Regulation Rescues Proliferation Defect Of Telomere Dysfunctional Neural Stem Cells Via The SWI/SNF-E2F Axis
Our brains contain specialized cells called neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain tissue. However, as we age, or in conditions of premature aging, these vital cells often lose their ability to multiply effectively, contributing to brain aging and associated problems. Scientists have been working to understand why this happens and how to reverse it.
Recent research has shed light on a key player in this process: a protein known as DMTF1. This protein acts as a “gene switch,” controlling the activity of other genes. In models of premature aging where the protective caps on chromosomes, called telomeres, are damaged, DMTF1 levels were found to be unusually low in neural stem cells. Intriguingly, when researchers boosted the levels of DMTF1, these aged and dysfunctional neural stem cells regained their ability to proliferate.
The study further uncovered the mechanism behind this rescue. It turns out that DMTF1 influences the production of two other proteins, Arid2 and Ss18. These proteins are components of a larger cellular machinery that helps organize our DNA and regulate gene activity. By controlling Arid2 and Ss18, DMTF1 effectively turns on a set of genes crucial for cell division, thereby promoting the healthy multiplication of neural stem cells. This discovery suggests that targeting DMTF1 could be a promising strategy to rejuvenate brain stem cells and potentially combat age-related brain decline.
Source: link to paper