Aging of hematopoietic stem cells: Intrinsic changes or micro-environmental effects?

作者：Woolthuis Carolien M; de Haan Gerald; Huls Gerwin^*

来源：Current Opinion in Immunology, 2011, 23(4): 512-517.

DOI：10.1016/j.coi.2011.05.006

During development hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) expand in number and persist throughout life by undergoing self-renewing divisions. Nevertheless, the hematopoietic system does not escape the negative effects of aging, suggesting that self-renewal is not complete. A fundamental issue in stem cell biology relates to such age-dependent loss of stem cell activity. Both stem cell intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors associated with an aging micro-environment could contribute to aging of the hematopoietic system. Recently, changes in the clonal composition of the HSC compartment during aging have been put forward as a key factor. Here, we discuss these recent developments and speculate how they may be of clinical relevance.

• 出版日期2011-8