Why This Is Huge
Many mouse studies never translate to humans. This study showed the treatment works on human cells - the same approach, same genes, same results.
What They Did
Researchers took human keratinocytes (skin cells) and treated them with the OSK genes - the same Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 combination used in the mouse study.
They then measured epigenetic age markers - the chemical tags on DNA that change predictably as we age.
What They Found
Significant reversal of epigenetic age markers. The human cells showed the same kind of rejuvenation patterns seen in the mice. The biological clock was turned back.
In Human Terms
Imagine taking skin cells from a 70-year-old, treating them with OSK, and having them function like cells from a 40 or 50-year-old. That's essentially what the lab results showed.
The cells didn't just look younger under a microscope - their epigenetic signature, the biological clock built into their DNA, was reset to an earlier time.
What's Next
Lab results → Animal trials → Human trials → Treatment
We're at the stage where it works in animals AND human cells in the lab. The next step is clinical trials in humans. Companies like Altos Labs and Retro Biosciences are working on exactly that.