title: Stem cell ageing and apoptosis.
abstract: Ageing has been defined as the process of deterioration of many body functions over the lifespan of an individual. In spite of the number of different theories about ageing, there is a general consensus in identifying ageing effects in a reduced capacity to regenerate injured tissues or organs and an increased propensity to infections and cancer. In recent years the stem cell theory of ageing has gained much attention. Adult stem cells residing in mammalian tissues are essential for tissue homeostasis and repair throughout adult life. With advancing age, the highly regulated molecular signalling necessary to ensure proper cellular, tissue, and organ homeostasis loses coordination and leads, as a consequence, to a compromised potential of regeneration and repair of damaged cells and tissues. Although a complete comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in stem cell ageing and apoptosis is far to be reached, recent studies are beginning to unravel the processes involved in stem cell ageing, particularly in adult skeletal muscle stem cells, namely satellite cells. Thus, the focus of this review is to analyse the relationship between stem cell ageing and apoptosis with a peculiar attention to human satellite cells as compared to haematopoietic stem cells. Undoubtedly, the knowledge of age-related changes of stem cells will help in understanding the ageing process itself and will provide novel therapeutic challenges for improved tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Universita G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti (CH), Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fulle
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Centurione
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancinelli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancilio
authors.forename: Francesco Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Manzoli
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*