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Review
. 2022;68(3):339-352.
doi: 10.1159/000516668. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Aging and Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges in the Older Group

Huan Chen  1 , Ousheng Liu  1 , Sijia Chen  1 , Yueying Zhou  1
Affiliations
Review

Aging and Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges in the Older Group

Huan Chen et al. Gerontology. 2022.

Abstract

With aging, a portion of cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), become senescent, and these senescent cells accumulate and promote various age-related diseases. Therefore, the older age group has become a major population for MSC therapy, which is aimed at improving tissue regeneration and function of the aged body. However, the application of MSC therapy is often unsatisfying in the aged group. One reasonable conjecture for this correlation is that aging microenvironment reduces the number and function of MSCs. Cellular senescence also plays an important role in MSC function impairment. Thus, it is necessary to explore the relationship between senescence and MSCs for improving the application of MSCs in the elderly. Here, we present the influence of aging on MSCs and the characteristics and functional changes of senescent MSCs. Furthermore, current therapeutic strategies for improving MSC therapy in the elderly group are also discussed.

Keywords: Aged group; Antiaging; Cellular senescence; Mesenchymal stem cell therapy; Mesenchymal stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of senescent microenvironment on MSCs. Senescent microenvironment plays a role in MSCs through SASP, EVs derived from SNCs, and cell-cell contact. MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; SNCs, senescent cells; SASP, senescence-associated secretory phenotype; EVs, extracellular vesicles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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