title: Effect of aging on stem cells.
abstract: Pluripotent stem cells have the remarkable self-renewal ability and are capable of differentiating into multiple diverse cells. There is increasing evidence that the aging process can have adverse effects on stem cells. As stem cells age, their renewal ability deteriorates and their ability to differentiate into the various cell types is altered. Accordingly, it is suggested aging-induced deterioration of stem cell functions may play a key role in the pathophysiology of the various aging-associated disorders. Understanding the role of the aging process in deterioration of stem cell function is crucial, not only in understanding the pathophysiology of aging-associated disorders, but also in future development of novel effective stem cell-based therapies to treat aging-associated diseases. This review article first focuses on the basis of the various aging disease-related stem cell dysfunction. It then addresses the several concepts on the potential mechanism that causes aging-related stem cell dysfunction. It also briefly discusses the current potential therapies under development for aging-associated stem cell defects.
authors.affiliation: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Matilda HC Sheng, Samiksha Wasnik, David J Baylink, Kin-Hing William Lau, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, United States.
authors.forename: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Matilda HC Sheng, Samiksha Wasnik, David J Baylink, Kin-Hing William Lau, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, United States.
authors.forename: Matilda Hc
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Matilda HC Sheng, Samiksha Wasnik, David J Baylink, Kin-Hing William Lau, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, United States.
authors.forename: Samiksha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wasnik
authors.affiliation: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Matilda HC Sheng, Samiksha Wasnik, David J Baylink, Kin-Hing William Lau, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, United States.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Baylink
authors.affiliation: Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Matilda HC Sheng, Samiksha Wasnik, David J Baylink, Kin-Hing William Lau, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92354, United States.
authors.forename: Kin-Hing William
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lau
keywords: Adult stem cells; Aging; Biological aging; Cellular aging; Mesenchymal stem cell; Premature aging; Stem cell renewal; Tissue regeneration