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Shift Bioscience unveils SB000, a single gene that rejuvenates cells as well as the Yamanaka factors without pluripotency
Shift Bioscience disclosed SB000, a single gene found by a machine-learning screen of 1,500 candidates against its AC3 aging clock. In dermal and lung fibroblasts and keratinocytes it reversed age on several DNA-methylation clocks about as much as the Yamanaka factors, while the cells kept their identity and showed no stem-cell markers. The data are in a bioRxiv preprint; mouse studies come next.
- Found by screening 1,500 genes, scored on a transcriptomic clock trained on donors aged 1 to 87.
- Epigenetic age fell by more than 13 years on the PCHorvath2013 clock in keratinocytes.
- Treated fibroblasts kept normal shape and collagen output and formed no stem-cell colonies; OSKM pushed cells toward pluripotency.
- Not yet peer reviewed; next are more cell types and in vivo mouse studies.