barbara
08-08-2011, 11:54 AM
Fight Aging Newsletter
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Changes in stem cell biology and capabilities are considered important
in age-related degeneration. For example: "A decline in cellular
homeostasis in older individuals underlies age-related pathologies
like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. [Researchers] report key
differences in the patterns of expressed mRNAs in bone-marrow
mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs) of young donors compared with old
human donors. The distinct subsets of expressed genes associated with
glycobiology are consistent with the underlying age-related decline in
bone marrow function. ... It is now well established that in older
individuals stem cells can become 'aged' and thus incapable of
renewing surrounding tissues and organs as efficiently as young
individuals. Experimental and clinical evidence has revealed the
importance of stem cell aging in bone marrow transplants, as
recipients of bone marrow from older donors do not fare as well as
recipients of bone marrow from younger donors. However, the molecular
mechanisms governing stem cell aging are not well understood. An
important first step towards this goal is to delineate the gene
expression differences between stem cells from young and old
individuals. Bone marrow stem cells are particularly well suited for
such studies, as they are relatively easy to purify to homogeneity.
... bmMSCs showed age-increases in the expression of genes associated
with the degradation of N-glycans and glycosaminoglycans and with the
biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids. These results reveal major
differences in the glycobiology and glycan compostion of young and old
bmMSCs, associated with age-related changes in the cellular responses
to autocrine and paracrine signals. The difference in glycan pathways
may not be limited to bmMSCs or even to stem cells, but could be more
widely prevalent among other cell types."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Changes in stem cell biology and capabilities are considered important
in age-related degeneration. For example: "A decline in cellular
homeostasis in older individuals underlies age-related pathologies
like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. [Researchers] report key
differences in the patterns of expressed mRNAs in bone-marrow
mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs) of young donors compared with old
human donors. The distinct subsets of expressed genes associated with
glycobiology are consistent with the underlying age-related decline in
bone marrow function. ... It is now well established that in older
individuals stem cells can become 'aged' and thus incapable of
renewing surrounding tissues and organs as efficiently as young
individuals. Experimental and clinical evidence has revealed the
importance of stem cell aging in bone marrow transplants, as
recipients of bone marrow from older donors do not fare as well as
recipients of bone marrow from younger donors. However, the molecular
mechanisms governing stem cell aging are not well understood. An
important first step towards this goal is to delineate the gene
expression differences between stem cells from young and old
individuals. Bone marrow stem cells are particularly well suited for
such studies, as they are relatively easy to purify to homogeneity.
... bmMSCs showed age-increases in the expression of genes associated
with the degradation of N-glycans and glycosaminoglycans and with the
biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids. These results reveal major
differences in the glycobiology and glycan compostion of young and old
bmMSCs, associated with age-related changes in the cellular responses
to autocrine and paracrine signals. The difference in glycan pathways
may not be limited to bmMSCs or even to stem cells, but could be more
widely prevalent among other cell types."