Stem cell exhaustion is an integrative hallmark of aging and is the culprit of the phenotype. It is an integrated consequence of many other hallmarks². The fact that stem cells are affected by the long-term buildup of damage in our bodies suggests that stem cell exhaustion is intrinsically linked to time. The more time passes, the more damage accumulates. And as that damage accumulates, it creates the effects we associate with getting older, such as wrinkles, thin skin, and degenerative diseases¹.
Stem cells together with anti-aging genes such as Klotho play a crucial role in delaying the aging process. Stem cells in combination with anti-aging genes make a complex and protective shield that stands against the eroding effects of aging³.
Highly advanced therapeutic manipulations of a stem cell niche to affect healthspan and lifespan of an individual is not a distant dream now².
(1) Cellular Senescence and Stem Cell Exhaustion | Lecturio. https://www.lecturio.com/magazine/cellular-senescence-and-stem-cell-aging/.
(2) What is stem cell exhaustion, and how does it affect aging?. https://www.qyral.com/blogs/news/what-is-stem-cell-exhaustion-and-how-does-it-affect-aging.
(3) Stem cells and anti-aging genes: double-edged sword—do the same job of …. https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13287-017-0746-4.
(4) Cellular and epigenetic drivers of stem cell ageing – Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41580-018-0020-3.
(5) Stem cell aging: mechanisms, regulators and therapeutic … – Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/nm.3651.
Next Read: Altered Intercellular Communication – Hallmark #9