Discovery of the “third state”, a form of cellular survival following the death of an organism

Scientifically, the line between life and death has always been clear, but a new study reveals that it may be blurrier than we think. Published in the journal Physiologyit introduces the existence of a “third state”, characterized by hitherto unknown changes in the behavior of certain cells after the death of an organism.

For any living organism, death generally marks the end, the definitive cessation of its entire functioning. However, it is possible that certain tissues or cells maintain activity for a limited time after death.

Researchers at the University of Washington have explored this phenomenon to understand its mechanisms. Their study reveals in particular that surviving cells can not only reorganize themselves to form a new cellular entity, but also develop new functions. This phase, which they call the “third state”, depends on several factors, some of which are still poorly understood. This discovery could one day find applications in medicine.

Big changes after an organism dies?

In a summary published in the media The Conversationthe authors of the study cite two cases of cell death where functional changes in cells were observed. The first involves xenobots, multicellular organisms also called “biorobots,” made of skin cells from dead frog embryos.

After their death, these cells reorganized to form the biological robots. Even more surprising, the xenobots used their cilia to move around in their environment, whereas in embryos, these cilia are normally used to move mucus. They also showed a capacity for kinematic self-replication, allowing them to reproduce their structure and functions.

The second case concerns anthrobots, biorobots created from human lung cells. These organisms have developed the ability to move and self-repair. They have also managed to repair damaged neural cells located nearby.

Potential medical applications

The researchers believe the discovery could lead to applications in medicine, such as using biorobots to perform specific functions in the body to treat diseases. Especially since the newly formed organisms have a lifespan of four to six weeks before they naturally degrade. Anthrobots, for example, could be involved in treating cystic fibrosis by helping to clear the thick mucus that clogs the airways. They could also be used to dissolve plaque deposits in the arteries of patients with atherosclerosis.

However, the path to these clinical applications is still very long. The third state has several poorly understood aspects. Its discovery raises many questions among researchers and even seems to call into question the general understanding of cellular functioning. The third state challenges how scientists generally understand how cells behave “, write the authors.

Researchers already know the main conditions that affect the survival of cells and tissues after the death of an organism. For example, they mention the metabolic activity of the cells, their storage conditions, the profile of the organism, and many other elements. However, they have not been able to establish the exact mechanism by which these variables influence cell survival. In addition, they still do not know the conditions under which cells change after the death of the organism.

Source: Physiology