Rejuvenation of Aging Cells Helps to Cure Osteoarthritis Through Gene Therapy

A study published in Cell Reports notes a protein factor, CBX4, could help cure osteoarthritis in mice, according to Medical Xpress . The researchers determined CBX4 protected mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) against cellular senescence via regulation of nucleolar architecture and function. Specifically, CBX4 overexpression attenuated the development of osteoarthritis in mice. The team downregulated the CBX4 protein in aged hMSCs, while CBX4 upregulation in hMSCs destabilized nucleolar heterochromatin, enhanced ribosome biogenesis, heightened protein translation, and expedited cellular senescence. CBX4 sustained nucleolar homeostasis by harnessing nucleolar protein fibrillarin and heterochromatin protein KRAB-associated protein 1 at nucleolar rDNA, restricting excessive expression of rRNAs, thus alleviating physiological hMSC aging and attenuating osteoarthritis development in mice. The researchers hope these findings will lead to interventions to prevent aging-associated stem cell depletion and treat age-related disorders in the future.