# Bonn University team lowers epigenetic age of old donors' blood-derived cells to 5% in culture

- Published: 2026-11-15 14:08 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Biotechnology
- Tags: epigenetic age reduction, induced neural stem cells, blood cell reprogramming, SOX2 cMYC, DNA methylation clock, University of Bonn research, cell rejuvenation in culture, reprogramming without pluripotency, 101-year-old donor cells
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-96c276c1256a2c3a20286082_bonn_university_team/

**Researchers derived neural stem cells from blood of donors up to 101 years old without a pluripotent stage; age-related marks faded over about 50 days in culture.**

![Bonn University team lowers epigenetic age of old donors' blood-derived cells to 5% in culture](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/783a7b6458499e4b.jpg)
*ixbt.com*

Researchers at the University of Bonn derived induced neural stem cells from blood cells of donors ranging from newborns to 101 years old. According to ixbt.com, the epigenetic age of cells from the oldest participants fell to 13% of the original value, and to 5% with further culturing [1]. The experiments were carried out on cells in culture.

## Reprogramming without a pluripotent stage

Two reprogramming factors, SOX2 and cMYC, were used to convert the blood cells. The cells acquired the properties of neural stem cells, which can give rise to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes [1]. Unlike the classical production of induced pluripotent stem cells, this route does not require passing through a state close to embryonic. Pluripotent cells can turn into almost any tissue, and their uncontrolled proliferation and the activity of reprogramming factors are associated with a risk of tumors.

Age-related epigenetic marks disappeared gradually: most of the changes took about 50 days [1]. The process was tracked by DNA methylation, chemical marks on the DNA molecule that algorithms use to estimate biological age.

## Control experiments and limitations

To test whether the rejuvenation depends on intensive cell division, the researchers slowed cell proliferation with special compounds, and in a separate experiment forced part of the cells to switch to neuronal specialization. In both cases the epigenetic age kept decreasing, so the effect cannot be explained simply by old cells being replaced by new ones [1]. How the process is triggered remains to be studied.

The authors note that epigenetic age is not a direct measure of a cell's functional state. A change of cell specialization can itself affect the readings of the clock, and neural cells and blood cells have different age characteristics, which may overstate the degree of rejuvenation. Still, the resulting cells also lost other signs of aging: characteristic changes of the nucleus, impaired autophagy and markers of cellular senescence [1].

According to the authors, the model allows rejuvenation to be examined step by step, which fast reprogramming did not permit. The mechanism has not yet been established, and it has not been shown that a similar effect can be safely induced in the body.

## Sources

1. [ixbt.com](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/11/15/kletki-101-letnego-celoveka-omolodili-pocti-do-embrionalnogo-sostoianiia-ucenye-nasli-sposob-povernut-ix-biologiceskie-casy-nazad.html)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-96c276c1256a2c3a20286082_bonn_university_team/