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

Huan Chen; Ousheng Liu; Sijia Chen; Yueying Zhou

doi:10.1159/000516668

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

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

Authors

Huan Chen¹, Ousheng Liu¹, Sijia Chen¹, Yueying Zhou¹

Affiliation

¹ Hunan Key Laboratory of Oral Health Research, Hunan 3D Printing Engineering Research Center of Oral Care, Hunan Clinical Research Center of Oral Major Diseases and Oral Health, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, and Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, China.

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.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging
Cellular Senescence
Humans
Mesenchymal Stem Cells*