Recent groundbreaking studies have revealed a fascinating insight into our body's cellular functions, suggesting that memory retention is not exclusive to the brain. Researchers, including Nikolay Kukushkin from New York University and collaborators, have discovered that kidney cells utilize the same mechanisms as brain cells to retain information. This revelation is supported by findings from ETH Zurich, which suggest that fat tissue cells retain memories of obesity, contributing to the notorious yo-yo weight loss effect.
The study led by Kukushkin highlights that kidney and nerve tissue cells are capable of forming memories much like brain cells. The mechanism follows the spacing effect, where experiences separated over time create stronger memories. This research uncovers that similar cellular tools are used across different cell types, providing a broader understanding of memory retention in non-neural tissues.
“What we were hoping to find […] is that generic cells of the body do not just have ‘memory,’ they have memory. It’s fully literal.” — Nikolay Kukushkin, DPhil
Kukushkin's study shows that the same mechanism retaining information in brain cells is present in kidney cells. The findings indicate that these cells can adapt future responses based on past experiences, akin to how memory operates in the brain.
“Our study shows that it’s not just a metaphorical connection — it is the same mechanism that retains information in brain cells and in kidney cells (same cellular tools), and it follows the same rules — namely, the spacing effect, the fact that experiences separated in time produce a stronger memory than the same amount of experience crammed in one go.” — Nikolay Kukushkin, DPhil
Meanwhile, research from ETH Zurich has shed light on the persistent struggle many face with weight loss. The study found that adipose tissue cells retain a memory of obesity even after significant weight loss. This epigenetic memory can trigger a rapid regain of weight, known as the yo-yo effect, as fat cells strive to return to their prior obese state.
“Humans and other animals have adapted to defend their body weight rather than lose it, as food scarcity was historically a common challenge,” — Ferdinand von Meyenn, PhD
This discovery suggests that maintaining a reduced or healthy body weight for an extended period might eventually erase this cellular memory. However, the current lack of pharmacological interventions targeting these epigenetic changes poses a challenge.
“Currently, there are no pharmacological interventions that are targeted against the epigenetic changes we have observed,” — Ferdinand von Meyenn, PhD
The study emphasizes the role of lifestyle factors in triggering epigenetic memory formation. Unhealthy dietary patterns can switch on genes that remain inactive under normal conditions, leading to persistent weight-related challenges.
“On a societal level, this could offer some solace to individuals struggling with obesity, as it suggests that the difficulty in maintaining weight loss may not be due solely to a lack of willpower or motivation, but rather to a deeper cellular memory that actively resists change.” — Ferdinand von Meyenn, PhD
The research also discovered significant implications for insulin regulation. When pancreatic cells encounter sugar after a 20-minute interval, they release insulin pulses twice as large as initial responses. This increased insulin can lead to fatigue and hunger, complicating weight maintenance efforts.
“This pulse reaches a certain peak, and then fades away. But wait 20 minutes and repeat the sugar load — now the pulse of insulin becomes twice as big.” — Nikolay Kukushkin, DPhil
These findings suggest an adaptive mechanism where pancreatic cells memorize nutrient patterns to regulate energy efficiently, paralleling how memories help adapt to life experiences.
“But if you had it permanently increased, you’d probably be fatigued and hungry all the time. So adding a memory element into the pancreatic cell helps it adapt to the patterns of nutrients, just as ‘mind’ memories help us adapt to the patterns of experience,” — Nikolay Kukushkin, DPhil
The notion of cellular memory extends beyond metaphorical connections. Kidney cells, for instance, might alter behavior based on distinct patterns of salts, fluids, and nutrients they encounter.
“A kidney cell might be exposed to different patterns of salts, fluids, nutrients; based on those patterns, it might change how it acts in the future.” — Nikolay Kukushkin, DPhil
This cutting-edge research opens new avenues in understanding health and disease management. While tools targeting the epigenome are under development, their application in humans remains nascent.
“Tools are being developed that could target the epigenome, but these are very novel and have not been used in humans.” — Ferdinand von Meyenn, PhD
Leave a Reply