Partial reprogramming can reverse aging without inducing pluripotency—if we get the dosing just right

Partial cellular reprogramming resets epigenetic age without inducing pluripotency—creating a controlled rejuvenation that stops short of dedifferentiation.

The hypothesis: by transiently expressing Yamanaka factors (OSKM) for days rather than weeks, we can reverse epigenetic drift and restore youthful cell function without the risks of teratoma formation or loss of cellular identity.

The key is dosing—not the factors themselves, but their duration of expression. Too little: no effect. Too much: pluripotency. Just right: rejuvenation.