Stem Cells and Aging

The function of tissues and organs declines with aging. This is accompanied by a progressive decrease in their adult stem cells׳ regenerative capacity, which is essential for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and response to damage or stress. Here we review the current literature on the potential causes leading to stem cell aging and will discuss the emerging view by which age-associated changes in extrinsic factors impinge on cell-intrinsic mechanisms and lead to stem cell dysfunction with aging. We will focus on skeletal muscle, mesenchymal, and hematopoietic stem cells and highlight common mechanisms that mediate age-dependent dysfunctions.