Aging in the lympho-hematopoietic stem cell compartment.
Cells of the immune system are progeny of a single primitive cell type, the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). Aging in most strains of mice is associated with a reduction in HSC frequency and a reduction in HSC function. Aged HSCs demonstrate reduced differentiation toward the lymphoid lineage, and this might be a relevant factor influencing immunosenescence. The molecular mechanisms of HSC aging need to be determined in more detail, but current studies have identified, among others, a role for telomere dysfunction in inducing cell intrinsic checkpoints and environmental alterations, which both skews and reduces stem cell differentiation and function. Reverting or ameliorating aging of HSCs might be a crucial step to restoring immuno-competence in the elderly.
Geiger
Hartmut
H
Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. hartmut.geiger@uni-ulm.de
Rudolph
K Lenhard
KL
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000276:immunology; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000276:immunology; D016615:Telomere / Q000276:immunology
D019098:Telomerase