Dear Michael, You probably remember that sour lemonade I tried in Munich, this “Bitter Lemon” we bought in the supermarket near the guesthouse. I always was wondering why they call it “Bitter”, for my taste it was rather “Sour”. Now I heard this exciting news from a group in Japan, who used citric acid treatment (i.e. the main aroma of Bitter Lemon) to turn ordinary cells into stem cells.
A group from the highly reputated RIKEN center found out that an acidic treatment can rejunevate aging cells into pluripotent stem cells.
If this can be reproduced in independent studies and in human tissue, it will revolutionarize cell-based therapy for virtually everybody. The dream to replace aging or degenerated organs and tissues with individually designed spare-parts (made out of patients own stem-cells) could soon become reality.In their original paper in NATURE the RIKEN group concluded that “This study has revealed that somatic cells latently possess a surprising plasticity. This dynamic plasticity—the ability to become pluripotent cells—emerges when cells are transiently exposed to strong stimuli that they would not normally experience in their living environments.” In an OpEd for the BBC, Chris Mason, professor of regenerative medicine at UCL london said “If this works in people as well as it does in mice, it looks faster, cheaper and possibly safer than other cell reprogramming technologies – personalised reprogrammed cell therapies may now be viable.”
A group from the highly reputated RIKEN center found out that an acidic treatment can rejunevate aging cells into pluripotent stem cells.
If this can be reproduced in independent studies and in human tissue, it will revolutionarize cell-based therapy for virtually everybody. The dream to replace aging or degenerated organs and tissues with individually designed spare-parts (made out of patients own stem-cells) could soon become reality.In their original paper in NATURE the RIKEN group concluded that “This study has revealed that somatic cells latently possess a surprising plasticity. This dynamic plasticity—the ability to become pluripotent cells—emerges when cells are transiently exposed to strong stimuli that they would not normally experience in their living environments.” In an OpEd for the BBC, Chris Mason, professor of regenerative medicine at UCL london said “If this works in people as well as it does in mice, it looks faster, cheaper and possibly safer than other cell reprogramming technologies – personalised reprogrammed cell therapies may now be viable.”
I am now asking myself if I should try right away a whole body shower in vinegar or ascorbic acid, to induce as many as possible stem cells in my body right away, or better wait for the first animal experiments which show acid related rejuvenation ? At a first step, at least I will stop following this anti-acidity diet recommendations by the organic food and alternative medicine groups. And I will drink a sour Martini and listen to some Acid Jazz tonight.
take care
/ghazal
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Dear Ghazal, what do you think is better ? Bitter Lemon or Sour Martini to induce stem-cell pluripotency ? Didn’t they say that other types of cellular stress (including alcohol) might do the same. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Sour Martini works best.
Take Care, Michael
hi michael, I talked to a friend who works at the Stem-Cell Department in Karolinska Institute. She said that there was already some rumour about these new findings some month ago. So they also tried immediately to induce pluripotency by low pH treatment. But since three month, I have not achieved the reported results. Maybe as you said, there is some additional cellular stressor required, like alcohol to do the full job.
The japanese group also reported that reflux from the stomach acid can induce stemness in the epithelial cells of the distal esophagous. But isn’t esophagous reflux also very frequently diagnosed in people with high alcohol consumption ?
Wouldn’t be surprised if there is a link.
Take Care, when you try it
/ghazal
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