UC San Diego’s Zeinab Jahed Explores Aging in Brain and Heart Cells

A researcher at the University of California San Diego has secured a seed grant from the Hypothesis Fund to investigate why certain critical cells in the body, like those in the brain and heart, exhibit aging despite not undergoing division. Zeinab Jahed, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering, will lead this innovative project aimed at understanding the aging process in non-dividing cells.

Traditionally, aging research has concentrated on cells that divide, yet some of the most significant signs of aging manifest in cells such as neurons and cardiomyocytes, which do not replicate. Jahed proposes that the aging observed in these cells may be linked to a deterioration of the nuclear membrane, the protective barrier that safeguards a cell’s DNA. This hypothesis will be rigorously tested in the upcoming research.

Innovative Techniques to Study Cellular Aging

Using advanced nanotechnology developed in her lab, Jahed plans to create and analyze minute ruptures in the nuclear membrane in real-time. The technology comprises an array of nanosized pillars that can delicately penetrate the cell nucleus without harming the surrounding cellular structures. When cells are placed atop this array, their nuclei wrap around the pillars, producing local curvatures in the nuclear membrane that lead to temporary, self-sealing ruptures.

This cutting-edge approach allows researchers to observe how live cells respond to these nuclear ruptures and whether their repair capabilities diminish with age. The team will focus on neurons and cardiomyocytes derived from established aging models at UC San Diego, measuring the frequency of nuclear ruptures, the speed of their repair, and the impact on DNA integrity, protein localization, and overall cell survival.

Potential Implications for Understanding Aging

By comparing young and old cells, this research aims to establish a quantitative relationship between age and nuclear membrane integrity in post-mitotic tissues. The findings could significantly alter the scientific community’s understanding of cellular aging. Rather than viewing nuclear damage merely as a consequence of aging, Jahed’s research might suggest it is a fundamental cause, particularly in long-lived cells that lack the ability to renew themselves.

This project is made possible through the Hypothesis Fund, which is dedicated to supporting pioneering scientific research in its early stages, particularly projects that may not receive funding through conventional means. The Fund aims to encourage bold, unconventional ideas in basic research, fostering advancements in scientific knowledge.

As the research progresses, it holds the promise of reshaping our understanding of aging at the cellular level, potentially leading to new strategies for enhancing cell longevity and health. The project’s outcomes could have far-reaching implications for science and medicine, particularly in the fields of neurobiology and cardiology.