Mitochondria for transplant: how "rebooting" cells can prolong youthfulness
- ALL PORTUGAL SPACE
- May 3
- 2 min read
Updated: May 3
If cells had a passport, mitochondria would be in it as the birthplace of energy. These tiny organelles are the body's true power plants. But what if they could be replaced, like a battery in a remote control? Scientists say you can. And it could be the key to prolonging youth.
What are mitochondria and why transplant them?
Mitochondria are organelles inside cells that are responsible for energy production. With age and under the influence of stress, they wear out, which can lead to various diseases and ageing of the body. The idea of mitochondria transplantation is to replace damaged mitochondria with healthy ones, which can restore energy exchange in cells and slow down the aging process.
How does mitochondrial transplantation work?
Scientists from ETH Zurich have developed a method that allows transplanting mitochondria from one living cell to another with high efficiency. Using a nanosyringe, mitochondria are extracted from healthy cells and injected into damaged cells. This process does not require surgical intervention and allows mitochondria to take root in new cells as soon as 20 minutes after transplantation.
What are the prospects for this technology?
Mitochondria transplantation could be a revolutionary method in the fight against age-related diseases such as heart failure, neurodegenerative diseases and others. Restoring the energy balance in cells may not only slow down aging, but also improve overall health.
Bottom line:
Mitochondrial transplantation is not a fantasy, but a reality that is already being tested in laboratories today. Perhaps in the near future we will be able to "recharge" our cells, prolonging youth and improving the quality of life.
Resources
The Research Progress of Mitochondrial Transplantation in the Treatment of Mitochondrial Defective Diseases – A review article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, available here:
Mitochondrial transplantation—a possible therapeutic for mitochondrial dysfunction? – An article in the journal EMBO Reports, available at the link:
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embr.202050964
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