title: The regulation of stem cell aging by Wnt signaling.
abstract: Aging is an inevitable physiological process that leads to the dysfunction of various tissues, and these changes may contribute to certain diseases, and ultimately death. Recent research has discovered biological pathways that promote aging. This review focuses on Wnt signaling, Wnt is a highly conserved secreted signaling molecule that plays an essential role in the development and function of various tissues, and is a notable factor that regulates aging. Although Wnt signaling influences aging in various tissues, its effects are particularly prominent in neuronal tissue and skeletal muscle. In neuronal tissue, neurogenesis is attenuated by the downregulation of Wnt signaling with aging. Skeletal muscle can also become weaker with aging, in a process known as sarcopenia. A notable cause of sarcopenia is the myogenic-to-fibrogenic trans-differentiation of satellite cells by excessive upregulation of Wnt signaling with aging, resulting in the impaired regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle. However, exercise is very useful for preventing the age-related alterations in neuronal tissue and skeletal muscle. Upregulation of Wnt signaling is implicated in the positive effects of exercise, resulting in the activation of neurogenesis in adult neuronal tissue and myogenesis in mature skeletal muscle. Although more investigations are required to thoroughly understand age-related changes and their biological mechanisms in a variety of tissues, this review proposes exercise as a useful therapy for the elderly, to prevent the negative effects of aging and maintain their quality of life.
authors: Stem Cell Engineering Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, and Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Fujimaki
authors: Stem Cell Engineering Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Tamami
authors: T
authors: Wakabayashi
authors: Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Tohru
authors: T
authors: Takemasa
authors: Stem Cell Engineering Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Asashima
authors: Stem Cell Engineering Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan. t.warashina@aist.go.jp.
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Kuwabara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins