title: Effect of aging on the pluripotential capacity of human CD105+ mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether aging modifies mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) properties is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the differentiation capacity of human CD105(+) MSCs obtained from young and elderly donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cells were obtained from young (n=10, 24+/-6.4 years) and elderly (n=9, 77+/-8.4 years) donors. Cell senescence was assessed by telomere length assays and lipofuscin accumulation. Cell pluripotentiality was analysed by adipogenic and osteogenic induction media, and myocyte phenotype was attempted with 5-azacytidine (5-AZ). Immunofluorescence, Western blot, transmission electron microscopy and fluo-4 confocal imaging were used to analyse the sarcomere, gap junctions and Ca(2+) dynamics. Cells obtained from young and elderly donors showed no significant differences in relative telomere length (40.1+/-6.4% and 40.3+/-3.6%, p=0.9) and lipofuscin accumulation. Adipogenic and osteogenic potential of CD105(+) MSCs was demonstrated. 5-AZ induced increased expression of sarcomeric proteins without complete sarcomere organization. Treated cells also showed increased presence of connexin-43 both in young and old donor-derived cells. Intercellular communications were verified by the observation of gap junctions and passage of Ca(2+) between neighbouring cells. Spontaneous Ca(2+) raises did not significantly increase after 5-AZ treatment in both age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age does not influence the adipogenic and myogenic differentiation potential of human CD105(+) MSCs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Physiology, Cardiology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, ICCC, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roura
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soler-Botija
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llach
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hove-Madsen
authors.forename: Jordi J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cairó
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gòdia
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cinca
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayes-Genis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface