#USA #New York #AI Technology #NYU Langone #Aging Cells

Revolutionary AI Technique to Monitor Aging Cells

In a pioneering study by researchers at NYU Langone Health, a novel technique that merges high-resolution imaging with artificial intelligence (AI) has been developed to track the progression of aging and damaged cells. This combination provides an unprecedented insight that could be vital for understanding and treating age-related diseases and tissue degeneration.

The Significance of Senescent Cells

Senescent cells—cells that have ceased to divide but are not dead—accumulate with age and are known to play significant roles in wound healing and the onset of diseases such as cancer and heart ailments. The ability to accurately measure and track these cells can yield insights into how tissues lose their regenerative capabilities over time. Moreover, it provides a potential path for developing therapies aimed at reversing the effects these cells have on health.

How the AI technology Works

The research team trained a computer system to analyze animal cells that were subjected to increasing concentrations of chemicals to mimic the human aging process. The study found that cells exposed to environmental stress factors tended to become senescent, ceasing reproduction while releasing specific molecules indicative of their damaged state.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, outlined that the AI's analysis detected measurable features related to the cell nucleus, providing a clearer understanding of senescence in tissues. Characteristics such as an enlarged nucleus, denser centers, and irregular shapes emerged as reliable indicators of cell aging. Additionally, genetic material within these cells showed abnormal staining patterns, further confirming their senescent state.

Developing the Nuclear Morphometric Pipeline (NMP)

Based on their discoveries, the researchers created a pioneering tool called the Nuclear Morphometric Pipeline (NMP), which generates a single score representing the degree of senescence across various cell populations. For example, the score allows comparison of fully senescent cell groups against healthy ones, enabling a scaling system that ranges from -20 to +20.

To validate this scoring system, the researchers tested it on mouse cells etched by age, from juvenile to geriatric stages. The results demonstrated striking differences—the NMP scores of older cell clusters were considerably lower than those from their younger counterparts, confirming the pipeline's reliability.

Tracking Cellular Repair Processes

Further application of the NMP examined five types of cells across diferentes age groups in mice, particularly focusing on those with muscle injuries. The NMP showcased its capability to closely follow the fluctuations of both senescent and non-senescent cells throughout the healing process. Its efficacy was highlighted when it indicated the presence of senescent muscle stem cells shortly after injury, suggesting their active role in the initial repair, followed by a decline as tissues healed.

Notably, in geriatric mice suffering from osteoarthritis, where senescent cartilage cells were found in significantly higher quantities compared to younger healthy ones, the NMP effectively distinguished these unhealthy cells.

Future Directions for Research

The study, led by Michael Wosczyna, PhD, emphasizes the broad applicability of the NMP for decomposing the complex nature of cell senescence across various diseases and tissues. Discussions about testing this tool on human tissues are underway, with hopes of merging it with other biomarker tools for a comprehensive analysis of senescence in wound repairs and diseases related to aging.

NYU Langone has filed a patent application for the NMP, which researchers aim to make accessible to promote further studies and therapeutic developments. Wosczyna asserts that this new technique signifies a leap towards developing effective treatments to counteract the adverse effects of senescence on human health, providing a more efficient framework for studying these crucial cells than existing methods.

With the support from the National Institutes of Health and contributions from various team members, this pioneering research sets the stage for a new frontier in understanding aging and tissue repair. As the work progresses, it promises not only to transform our comprehension of cellular aging but also to potentially unlock new therapeutic paradigms in regenerative medicine.