A study that reveals: "Zombie" cells can help treat cancer

Researchers at the American University of Jones Hopkins revealed that there are three different subcultures of the skin cells that they describe as ‘zombie’, which are the cells that have reached the age of age but do not die, making them similar to ‘zombies’ or the living dead. These cells, scientifically known as the “pyramid” cells, have been a medical puzzle for years because of their double role in the body as it contributes to infections and diseases associated with aging, but at the same time helps the immune system in healing wounds. The study, published in the journal “Science Advanbas”, said that these cells are not the same, but rather divided into different types of each of its unique characteristics and functions. This discovery paves the way for more accurate treatments aimed at eliminating harmful cells while maintaining useful cells. The research team used advanced techniques in automatic learning and cellular imaging to analyze samples of skin cells taken from 50 healthy donors between the ages of 20 and 90 years, which participated in the study held in Baltimore, Maryland, which is the longest continuous study of aging in the United States. The researchers focused on the fibrous cells responsible for building the connective tissue that gives the skin its flexibility and strength, and if these cells are exposed to damage to the DNA, as it happens to age, it is included in the “zombie” phase. It interacted differently and through the use of specialized dyes, scientists were able to portray cell forms and distinguish important signs of aging, after which they used computer algorithms to analyze images and measure 87 physical features for each cell, which enabled the classification of fibrous cells in different groups. And the team discovered that the hacker cells are in 11 forms and size, 3 of which are for the pyramidal cells, and most importantly, one of these subspecies, which researchers called C10, was more common among the older donors. After testing the effect of current medication designed to target hacker cells, researchers found that each sub -type interacted otherwise. For example, the medicine “Diasinib” with “Kircetin”, which is currently being tested in the clinical trials to combat cancer, was effective in killing the C7 sub -type, but it was not the same effectiveness towards the K10 associated with aging. These results indicate that medication can be designed to target a specific subtype without affecting other types, opening the door for more specialized treatments. “Thanks to these results, we have the tools needed to develop medicines or treatments aimed at the subtype that causes infections and diseases once determined,” said the lead author of the study that Jude Philip, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the university. ‘Harge treatments’ and this discovery can make a major shift in cancer treatments. Some modern treatments stimulate the aging of cancer cells, which stop their unlimited reproduction. But the problem is that these pyramid cells accumulate and cause infections seriously, especially if the immune system is weak due to chemotherapy. Here comes the role of so -called ‘hacker drugs’, which can be given to chemotherapy to get rid of harmful hierarchical cells, while retaining the useful cells, reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and improving the results of recovery. The research team aims to expand the extent of the study to investigate human tissue samples, not just the isolated cells in the laboratory, to understand how these subtypes are linked to skin diseases and age -related diseases. The researchers hope that these technology will develop diagnostic instruments that help doctors determine the optimal treatment for each patient based on the type of hazel cells in his body. Philip added that the team hopes to use this technique in the future to predict the best medicine to target the hacker cells associated with specific diseases. He continued: “The final dream is to use this information in medical clinics to improve individual diagnosis and improve health results.” The discovery is a great step towards a better understanding of aging and the treatment of related diseases, which overlap a new era of exact medicine that accurately target harmful cells and allow useful cells to play their role in maintaining the health of the body.