Key points from article :
The researchers found that blood stem cells use an unexpected method to get rid of their misfolded proteins, this activity degrades with age.
Boosting this specialized garbage disposal system could help protect against age-related diseases.
The study focused on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
When their function is weakened or lost, this can lead to blood and immune disorders, such as anemia, blood clotting and cancer.
"Stem cells are in it for the long haul. Their need for longevity ...short-lived cells in the body." Robert Signer, PhD, senior study author.
The proteasome method breaks proteins down immediately, producing amino acids that the cell can reuse to build new proteins.
"Our hope is that ... stem cell fitness during aging and mitigate blood and immune disorders," said Signer.
The study was carried out at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and was published in Cell Stem Cell.
