Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells: aging features and relevant treatments

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.17.020

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells may be sensitive to age-related diseases, which is a contributory factor of bone remodeling after degenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the features of aging and progress in treatments related to cell aging. METHODS: We retrieved PubMed database for articles concerning aging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and its treatments published from June 2006 to June 2016. The key words were "MSCs, aging". Finally, 61 relevant articles were selected and reviewed in reference with Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells can support the growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the immune and hematopoietic system, promote repair of the bone marrow, and influence bone growth and remodeling. However, cell aging occurs with age and other factors will affect cell function. Aging bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells show shortened telomere, reduced proliferation and differentiation ability and increased oxidative stress level. Current evidence has confirmed that cell aging can be delayed or prevented by adjustment of age-related telomerase activities, oxidative stress intervention, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in the microenvironment, regulation of p16, p53 gene expression or drugs such as histone acetyltransferase and lysophosphatidic acid, thereby to improve the clinical curative effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, the exact mechanism remains to be further studied.