Aged Differentiated Cells Reverse Into Native Stemness-Like State By Niche Cytokines To Sustain Lifelong Homeostasis And Tissue Repair

This study demonstrates that aged differentiated corneal epithelial cells can revert to a stemness-like state through dedifferentiation, driven by niche-derived cytokines. This reversion allows these cells to maintain tissue homeostasis and effectively repair tissue injuries throughout life. The research highlights that while this plasticity is possible within the epithelial lineage, it does not extend across different lineages, as evidenced by the inability of transplanted conjunctival cells to regenerate the corneal stem cell pool. The findings suggest a conserved pathway for epithelial regeneration that could be therapeutically exploited.