Prolonged fasting reduces IGF-1/PKA to promote hematopoietic stem cell based regeneration and reverse immunosuppresion.

Prolonged fasting can protect hematopoietic stem cells from aging and cancer chemotherapy.

This research work was carried out to determine the effect of prolonged fasting on age-induced and chemotherapy-induced damage to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Mice and humans were studied for this research work.

Researchers found out that multiple cycles of prolonged fasting decreased the concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and the activity of protein kinase A (PKA) .Diminished IGLF levels and PKA activity were observed to activate signal transduction in long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) that promoted the rejuvenation of old and damaged stem cells. The findings of this study show that prolonged fasting can reverse immunosuppression and immunosenescence (loss of HSCs) by reducing the concentrations and activity of IGF-1 and PKA.