Cited by 436Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsHematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantationMesenchymal stem cell research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 260 of the 260 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 7 of the 266 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Ageing and rejuvenation of tissue stem cells and their niches

Open access
Brunet, Anne, Goodell, Margaret A., Rando, Thomas A.·2023·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

Most adult organs contain regenerative stem cells, often organized in specific niches. Stem cell function is critical for tissue homeostasis and repair upon injury, and it is dependent on interactions with the niche. During ageing, stem cells decline in their regenerative potential and ability to give rise to differentiated cells in the tissue, which is associated with a deterioration of tissue integrity and health. Ageing-associated changes in regenerative tissue regions include defects in maintenance of stem cell quiescence, differentiation ability and bias, clonal expansion and infiltration of immune cells in the niche. In this Review, we discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying ageing in the regenerative regions of different tissues as well as potential rejuvenation strategies. We focus primarily on brain, muscle and blood tissues, but also provide examples from other tissues, such as skin and intestine. We describe the complex interactions between different cell types, non-cell-autonomous mechanisms between ageing niches and stem cells, and the influence of systemic factors. We also compare different interventions for the rejuvenation of old regenerative regions. Future outlooks in the field of stem cell ageing are discussed, including strategies to counter ageing and age-dependent disease. Stem cell function declines during ageing, resulting in the loss of tissue integrity and health deterioration. Ageing is associated with defects in the maintenance of stem cell quiescence and cell differentiation ability, clonal expansion and infiltration of immune cells in the niche. This Review discusses the mechanisms underlying ageing in stem cells and their niches, and potential rejuvenation strategies.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes how mammalian tissue stem cells and their niches deteriorate with age, focusing on brain, muscle and blood, and discusses rejuvenation strategies. It argues that stem cell ageing is driven by cell-intrinsic changes plus non-cell-autonomous niche, immune and systemic factors, with interventions such as parabiosis, exercise, dietary restriction and partial reprogramming showing promise but unresolved safety and durability questions.

Key findings

  • Most somatic stem cells decline in number and function with age, but HSCs are an exception: phenotypically defined HSC numbers increase while function decreases, and old HSCs produce fewer lymphoid cells and are skewed towards the myeloid lineage.
  • Ageing niches show immune-cell infiltration, inflammation, altered soluble factors and increased stiffness; in the SVZ neurogenic niche, RNA-seq uncovered 11 cell types, and ageing is accompanied by clonally expanded cytotoxic CD8+ T cells.
  • Clonal haematopoiesis is ubiquitous in aged humans and is associated with a tenfold increased risk of malignancy; it often involves somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators such as DNMT3A.
  • Rejuvenation strategies including heterochronic parabiosis, exercise, dietary restriction, NAD+ precursors and partial OSKM reprogramming can restore youthful features in some aged stem cells, but effects vary by tissue and stem cell type.

Methods

  • Design: narrative review of mammalian somatic stem cell ageing and rejuvenation, not a primary experimental study.
  • Scope: focuses primarily on brain, muscle and blood tissues, with examples from skin and intestine; covers stem cell-intrinsic defects, niche changes, molecular mechanisms, systemic interactions and rejuvenation interventions.
  • Analysis: synthesizes findings from single-cell transcriptomics, lineage tracing, clonal analysis, proteomics, transplantation and parabiosis studies; no systematic search strategy or meta-analysis is described.

Limitations

  • The paper states that most discussed studies were conducted in mice, sometimes rats, whose lifespan is relatively short (~3 years), and that stem cell maintenance mechanisms may differ from humans and other long-lived species.
  • The paper states that the extent to which organoid or cellular models recapitulate in vivo ageing features remains to be determined, and that an efficient and safe stem cell therapy to slow or reverse tissue ageing has not been identified.
  • Evident from the text: as a review, it provides no new primary data, and it notes unresolved debates such as the timing of human hippocampal neurogenesis decline.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41580-022-00510-w

Cites

260 of 260 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

176 Not checked yet · 36 No basis given · 24 Own interpretation · 3 Partly supported · 2 Supported · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 148 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 89
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 5
93 of 93
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Stem cell function is critical for tissue homeostasis and repair upon injury.

    “Stem cell function is critical for tissue homeostasis and repair upon injury, and it is dependent on interactions with the niche.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Stem cells are maintained and regulated by their micro-environment (the niche), which forms a regenerative unit or region.

    “Stem cells have a crucial role for tissue homeostasis, and they are maintained and regulated by their micro-environment (the ‘niche’), which forms a regenerative unit or region (FIG. 1b).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most adult stem cells are quiescent.

    “Whereas embryonic stem cells proliferate actively, a crucial characteristic of most adult stem cells is their quiescent state.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The effects of dietary interventions are ultimately conveyed to cells, including stem cells, throughout the body via changes in the blood and then the local cellular milieu.

    “The effects of dietary interventions are ultimately conveyed to cells, including stem cells, throughout the body via changes in the blood and then the local cellular milieu.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mouse and rat lifespan is relatively short (~3 years).

    “Most of the studies discussed in this Review were conducted in mice (sometimes in rats), and it is important to note that mouse and rat lifespan is relatively short (~3 years) and that mechanisms of stem cell maintenance may differ from those in humans and other long-lived species.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In the intestine, ageing is associated with impaired ISC function that can lead to malabsorption syndromes.

    “In the intestine, ageing is associated with impaired ISC function that can lead to malabsorption syndromes.”
6 of 6

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Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Brunet, A., Goodell, M. A., & Rando, T. A.
Affiliations
  • Stanford University (US)
  • Baylor College of Medicine (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
  • Brunet, Anne
  • Goodell, Margaret A.
  • Rando, Thomas A.
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2022-07-20
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
45-62
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W4286001510
Cited by
407
References
258
Citations by year
2026: 105 · 2025: 126 · 2024: 97 · 2023: 72 · 2022: 7
FWCI
6.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Commons-TMC (Texas Medical Center) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (P01AG036695, R01AG071783, R01AG071711)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Mesenchymal stem cell research
Keywords
stem cell aging, tissue stem cells, stem cell niche, tissue rejuvenation, stem cell quiescence, clonal expansion, immune cell infiltration, tissue homeostasis, tissue regeneration, age-related diseases, brain, muscle, blood, skin, intestine, non-cell-autonomous mechanisms, systemic factors
MeSH terms
Cell Differentiation, Rejuvenation, Stem Cells, Cellular Senescence, Stem Cell Niche

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