Leveraging cancer mutations and metabolism for regenerative medicine applications

Cellular replication rates can vary between different cell types and the genes encoded within them. However, there are ways to manipulate cells in order to increase their rate of cell turnover. Cancer cells are an important point of study, as one of their characteristic traits is their rapid reproduction. The mutations that cause cancer cells to grow faster than normal either alter genes or change metabolic pathways. This can be manipulated in normal cells through upregulation or downregulation to artificially induce rapid rates of reproduction in normal cells. Mitochondrial function also impacts the rate of cellular processes and turnover, and can be made more efficient by providing specific nutrients to cells that stimulate mitochondrial function. These technologies can be used to induce higher rates of turnover in normal cells from different parts of the body for the purpose of regenerative medicine and medicinal research.