Revealed - what makes us live for a long time

The world's oldest woman's blood analysis has concluded that lifespan of humans might ultimately be limited by the capacity for stem cells to keep replenishing tissues day in day out. Researchers after examining Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper's body suggested that once the stem cells reached a state of exhaustion that imposed a limit on their own lifespan, they themselves gradually die out and gradually reduce the body's capacity to keep regenerating vital tissues and cells, such as blood, New Scientist reported. (Read: Scientists discover gene that can turn off leukaemia stem cells)

Henne Holstege of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam said that it was estimated that humans were born with approximate 20,000 blood stem cells, and at any one time, around 1000 were simultaneously active to replenish blood. (Read: Researcher designs a 'mini heart' using stem cells!)

Researchers also observed that Andel-Schipper's white blood cells had radically worn-down telomeres, the protective tips on chromosomes that burned down like wicks each time a cell divided. Holstege added that mutations within the blood cells were not dangerous which resulted from mistaken duplication of DNA during van Andel-Schipper's life, as the 'mother' blood stem cells multiplied to provide clones from which blood was repeatedly refilled. (Read: Stem cells grown on fluffier mediums function better!)

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are cells which are capable of giving rise to more cells of the same type. They are of particular interest because they are capable of replenishing dying cells and can regenerate damaged tissues. Experts believe that stem cell treatments will play an important role in alleviating human diseases. Right now the only cost beneficial stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation but experts believe that it can be soon used to treat cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, cardiac failures and can facilitate organ transplantation with minimal risk of rejection and side-effects. (Read: Stem cell therapy what you ought to know)

With inputs from ANI

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