Attenuation of age-elevated blood factors by repositioning plasmapheresis: A novel perspective and approach

Transfus Apher Sci. 2021 Jun;60(3):103162. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2021.103162. Epub 2021 May 21.

Abstract

Aging is associated with the impairment of stem cell activation, leading to the functional decline of tissues and increasing the risk for age-associated diseases. The old, damaged or unrepaired tissues disturb distant tissue homeostasis by secreting factors into the circulation, which may not only serve as biomarkers for specific age-associated pathologies but also induce a variety of degenerative phenotypes. In this review, we summarize and discuss systemic determinants that perpetuate age-related tissue dysfunction. We further elaborate on the effects of attenuating these circulating factors by highlighting recent advances which utilize plasmapheresis in a pre-clinical or clinical setting. Overall, we postulate that repositioning therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to dilute the systemic factors, which become deleterious at their age-elevated levels, could be a rapidly effective rejuvenation therapy that recalibrates crucial signaling pathways to a youthful state.

Keywords: Age-associated diseases; Aging; Blood; Inflammation; Plasma; Plasmapheresis; Rejuvenation; Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP); Senescent cells; Systemic factors; Tissue repair.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Blood / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Plasmapheresis / methods*