Squirrels and other hibernating animals have an almost witching power to withstand frigid temperature . New inquiry has uncovered the biologic factors involved in keeping cellular body structure inviolate during hibernation — a determination that could finally be used to preserve human organs prior to transplanting .
There ’s no question thatsomething need to be done about the ongoing organ donor shortage . Annually , US citizen undergo approximately 28,000 transplants , while another 120,000 people are placed on waiting lists , accordingto the US Department of Health and Human Services . Around 35 percent of all US deaths could be prevented or delayed by organ transplanting , but while 95 percent of Americans support organ donation , only 40 percent are show donors . And then there ’s the timing expression ; the availability of organs does n’t always concur with a patient in need . Hence the need for viable organ preservation methods .
One possible solution , asproposed in a Cell newspaper published this week , involves leveraging the power of hibernation . Or more specifically , leverage the biological processes that make hibernation possible . The new enquiry , acquit by scientists at the National Eye Institute , a part of the National Institutes of Health , bring out the remarkable cellular mechanisms that enable primer squirrels to last exposure to frigid conditions as they wait out the wintertime months . Their promising experiment suggest that similar process could be applied to human tissue , admit for the foresightful - term preservation of organs .
Researcher Wei Li , a senior researcher in the NEI Retinal Neurophysiology Section , and his workfellow Jingxing Ou , studied cells of the common 13 - lined ground squirrel ( Ictidomys tridecemlineatus ) . This North American rodent features 13 alternating brownish and white lines that exsert along the distance of its trunk ( hence its name ) , but more significantly , it ’s a hibernating mammal . As the unexampled research show , the cell of these beast contain microtubule cytoskeleton — pocket-sized tubes that form potent geomorphologic meshwork within electric cell while also allowing for the Department of Transportation of cell organ and molecular compounds want for cellular wellness and survival of the fittest .
For the study , the researchers compared the cells of non - hibernating beast , such as humans and rats , with cells from the 13 - line ground squirrel as they searched for the factors responsible for the animals ’ different responses to cold . At temperatures nearing the freeze spot , the microtubule cytoskeleton in the squirrel ’s brain cells remained intact , but the cold caused those same structures to collapse in the neural cells of humanity and squealer , leave in cellular death .
To figure out what ’s go on at the biologic floor , Li and Ou created an in vitro version of the process they dub “ hibernation in a dish . ” By reprogramming the prison cell of newborn footing squirrels into stem cell , the researchers were able to retain the stale - adaptive characteristic of the cells ; and because shank cells can be turned into fundamentally any other sort of cell , the researchers were able to study how various squirrel cells were able to conform to the cold .
In science laboratory experiments , the investigator equate differences in the transmissible expression of root word - cell derived neural cells in both squirrels and human . When it got cold , human brain cells over - produced a responsive oxygen compound ( ROS ) that result in major problems , including the oxidation of protein along the microtubule that caused the structure to fail . In squirrels , however , ROS levels stayed low , and the microtubule remain intact . At the same time , photograph to low temperature also impair the ability of neurons to dispose of toxic oxidized proteins , called proteases , which destroyed nearby microtubule .
The researchers then sought to regulate if it was possible to conquer these debilitating outgrowth in non - hibernating cells . To that end , they treated a variety of human , mouse , and rat cells with a drug that deoxidize the production of ROS and a drug that bottle up protease activity . After expose these treated cell to four stage speed of light temperature for 24 hours , the investigator watched as the microtubule anatomical structure were preserve in both human prow cell - derived neurons and non - neural tissue paper . The microtubes in the cells of mice kidney , for example , manifest solid wholeness after cool down and warming . The method acting was also applied to the retinas of rats , preserving both complex body part and functionality of the organ .
More work still needs to be done , such as test the method on non - stem cell derive cells , but it ’s a promising start . The technique could be used to cool and maintain organs prior to transplant , and to also allow for surgically induced hypothermia for patient role with traumatic mind combat injury .
“ By sympathize the biology of cold adaptation in hibernation , we may be able to improve and broaden the applications of induced hypothermia in the future , and perhaps keep up the viability of variety meat prior to transplant , ” said Li in a assertion . “ Kidneys , for instance , are typically stored for no more than 30 hour . After that , the tissue paper bulge to degenerate , impairing the harmonium ’s ability to serve properly after its been rewarmed and [ restore ] . Heart , lungs and liver have an even shorter ledge life . ”
It may be years until we see this applied science applied in a clinical mount , so until then , be indisputable to fill out your pipe organ donor card .
[ Cell ]
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