The sea anemone known as Nematostella vectensis might hold the secret to immortality. For the first time, researchers using molecular genetics, led by Ulrich Technau from the University of Vienna, have identified possible multipotent stem cells in this sea anemone. These stem cells are governed by genes that have been preserved throughout evolution.
The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has shown potential signs of immortality. Recently, a team of developmental biologists, headed by Ulrich Technau from the University of Vienna, utilized molecular genetic techniques to uncover possible multipotent stem cell candidates in the anemone for the first time. These stem cells are influenced by genes that have remained relatively unchanged through evolution, which in humans typically function in the development of eggs and sperm. This capability grants ancient animal groups like cnidarians significant regenerative abilities, allowing them to potentially evade the effects of aging. The findings are featured in Science Advances and may offer future insights into human aging.
The saying “We live as long as our stem cells” may sound dramatic, but it holds a core truth. Stem cells play a crucial role in the ongoing replenishment of various human cells and tissues, including blood, skin, and hair. When stem cells lose their regenerative capabilities or decline in number as we age, it leads to aging and diseases. Hence, stem cells are a major focus in biomedical research.
While humans and most vertebrates can regenerate only certain parts of organs or limbs, some animals possess remarkably advanced regeneration abilities. This is made possible through pluripotent or multipotent stem cells that can develop into nearly every cell type in the body. The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis also exhibits strong regenerative traits: it can reproduce asexually via budding and shows no aging signs, making it an intriguing target for stem cell studies. However, researchers have struggled to pinpoint stem cells within these creatures until now.
Employing the innovative “Single Cell Genomics” approach, Technau and his colleagues identified cells in this complex organism by examining their unique transcriptomic profiles, revealing their developmental origins. “By utilizing single-cell gene expression analysis along with transgenesis, we’ve successfully identified a significant population of cells in the sea anemone that develop into specialized cells, such as nerve and glandular cells, suggesting their role as multipotent stem cells,” explains Andreas Denner, the lead author from the University of Vienna. These cells had previously gone unnoticed due to their microscopic size.
These prospective stem cells express the evolutionarily conserved genes nanos and piwi, which are critical in the formation of germ cells (sperm and eggs) across all animal species, including humans. By using CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify the nanos2 gene, the researchers demonstrated its necessity for germ cell development in sea anemones. Research in other animals has similarly indicated that this gene is vital for gamete production.
This evidence suggests that the function of this gene originated around 600 million years ago and has remained intact through time. In upcoming studies, Ulrich Technau and his team plan to explore the unique characteristics of the sea anemone’s stem cells that contribute to its potential immortality.
