TY - JOUR
T1 - Concise review
T2 - Hematopoietic stem cell aging, life span, and transplantation
AU - van Zant, Gary
AU - Liang, Ying
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Self-renewal and multilineage differentiation of stem cells are keys to the lifelong homeostatic maintenance of tissues and organs. Hematopoietic aging, characterized by immunosenescence, proinflammation, and anemia, is attributed to age-associated changes in the number and function of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their microenvironmental niche. Genetic variants and factors regulating stem cell aging are correlatively or causatively associated with overall organismal aging and longevity. Translational use of HSCs for transplantation and gene therapy demands effective methods for stem cell expansion. Targeting the molecular pathways involved in HSC self-renewal, proliferation, and homing has led to enhanced expansion and engraftment of stem cells upon transplantation. HSC transplantation is less effective in elderly people, even though this is the demographic with the greatest need for this form of treatment. Thus, understanding the biological changes in the aging of stem cells as well as local and systematic environments will improve the efficacy of aged stem cells for regenerative medicine and ultimately facilitate improved health and life spans.
AB - Self-renewal and multilineage differentiation of stem cells are keys to the lifelong homeostatic maintenance of tissues and organs. Hematopoietic aging, characterized by immunosenescence, proinflammation, and anemia, is attributed to age-associated changes in the number and function of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their microenvironmental niche. Genetic variants and factors regulating stem cell aging are correlatively or causatively associated with overall organismal aging and longevity. Translational use of HSCs for transplantation and gene therapy demands effective methods for stem cell expansion. Targeting the molecular pathways involved in HSC self-renewal, proliferation, and homing has led to enhanced expansion and engraftment of stem cells upon transplantation. HSC transplantation is less effective in elderly people, even though this is the demographic with the greatest need for this form of treatment. Thus, understanding the biological changes in the aging of stem cells as well as local and systematic environments will improve the efficacy of aged stem cells for regenerative medicine and ultimately facilitate improved health and life spans.
KW - Aging
KW - Gene therapy
KW - Hematopoietic stem cells
KW - Stem cell transplantation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873029501&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84873029501&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5966/sctm.2012-0033
DO - 10.5966/sctm.2012-0033
M3 - Article
C2 - 23197871
AN - SCOPUS:84873029501
SN - 2157-6564
VL - 1
SP - 651
EP - 657
JO - Stem cells translational medicine
JF - Stem cells translational medicine
IS - 9
ER -