Background: Cellular senescence is one of the major factors contributing to the aging process. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is known to trigger an array of cellular responses, but there are no data on how it affects the process of cellular senescence. In this study, we analyze the effect of PBM on the cellular senescence and telomere dynamics. Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts were irradiated by a panel of light-emitting diodes with 590 nm and dose 30 J/cm² accumulated over 1200 sec repeated in 4-day cycle within 40 days. After the last cycle of PBM treatment, the difference in number of senescent cells between PBM treated groups end nontreated control groups was measured by senescent sensitive β-galactosidase assay, and the difference in average telomere length between the experimental end control groups was analyzed using relative human telomere length quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) assay. Results: After 10 cycles of irradiation, the percentage of senescent cells in PBM-treated cultures was 19.7% ± 4.5%, p < 0.05 smaller than the percentage of senescent cells in the control group, and their relative telomere length was 1.19 ± 0.09-fold, p < 0.05 greater than nontreated controls. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates for the first time that PBM with appropriate parameters can delay the attrition of the telomeres and the entry of cells into senescence, suggesting a potential involvement of telomerase reactivation. A hypothetical mechanism for this light-induced antiaging effect is discussed.

The differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGC-LCs) provides a robust in vitro model to study human germline specification. Here, we present a simple, reproducible, and cost-effective protocol for generating DEAD-box helicase 4 (DDX4)/VASA and Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (DAZL)-positive PGC-LCs from hESCs using a combination of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and conditioned medium (CM) derived from Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen-4 (SSEA4)-positive human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSC-4). Importantly, unlike conventional protocols that rely on embryoid body formation, our method employs adherent cultures for germ cell differentiation. This approach enhances reproducibility by avoiding the spontaneous and stochastic variability inherent to embryoid body formation. This protocol provides a reproducible and physiologically relevant platform for studying human germ cell development in vitro.

Gastrointestinal and liver diseases remain major contributors to global morbidity and mortality, with limited options for curative or regenerative treatment. Innovative cell-based platforms for liver regeneration and treatment include advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and organoids produced by them, while cell-free systems like extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a new approach to restore tissue function and homeostasis. This review summarizes key advances from 2020 to 2025 in the translational development of these platforms. MSCs have achieved clinical validation in perianal Crohn’s disease and show encouraging antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects in cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. iPSC and iPSC-derived organoids now enable disease modeling and, in early trials, have shown direct epithelial repair. Emerging cell-free approaches based on EVs promise safer, scalable products. Despite rapid progress, challenges remain in potency standardization, manufacturing, and long-term efficacy assessment. International harmonization through the EMA, FDA, and PMDA frameworks is accelerating the translation of stem cell-based advanced therapy medicinal products. The integration of bioengineering, data science, and ethical governance will determine whether these regenerative approaches evolve into accessible standard-of-care interventions for gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol exhibiting various beneficial effects, such as anti-tumour, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. The anti-cancer activity of resveratrol is related to alterations in specific sphingolipid metabolites. In this work we used SW480 colorectal carcinoma cells to analyze the effect of resveratrol on key sphingolipids, as well as on sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes. Our findings show that resveratrol treatment of colorectal tumour cells, unlike other tumour cells, induces elevation in the main pro-apoptotic factor ceramide, whereas no significant changes were observed in the proliferation-supporting sphingolipid sphingosine-1 phosphate as well as in the enzyme maintaining its level. The presented data will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of phytoalexins on the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism and may serve as a basis for developing complex anti-cancer therapeutic approaches involving natural antitumour and antioxidant agents, such as polyphenols.