Influence of aging on the activity of mice Sca-1+CD31- cardiac stem cells

Qiong Wu1,2,3, Jinxi Zhan1,2,3, Shiming Pu1,2,3

  • 1School of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China.

Oncotarget
|December 17, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Aging significantly impairs cardiac stem/progenitor cells (CSCs/CPCs), reducing their regenerative potential. This study reveals age-dependent declines in CSC/CPC differentiation and proliferation, impacting cardiac repair.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Therapeutic use of cardiac stem/progenitor cells (CSCs/CPCs) is hindered by age-related decline in regenerative capacity.
  • While cardiac aging is linked to stem cell dysfunction, the specific impact on CSC/CPC subgroups and their relationship with age-related dysfunction remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of aging on specific subgroups of cardiac stem/progenitor cells (CSCs/CPCs).
  • To analyze the relationship between CSC/CPC aging and age-related cardiac dysfunction.
  • To identify age-dependent changes in CSC/CPC proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of Sca-1+CD31- CSCs from young and old mice.
  • Induction of biological differentiation into cardiomyocyte, smooth muscle, and endothelial lineages over 14 days.
  • Assessment of cell proliferation and cell cycle using flow cytometry.
  • Microarray analysis to identify age-dependent transcriptional differences.

Main Results:

  • Older mice exhibited a higher number of CSCs, but significantly reduced differentiation and proliferation abilities compared to younger mice.
  • Age-dependent transcriptional changes in CSCs were associated with Vitamin B6 metabolism, circadian rhythm, Tyrosine metabolism, and complement/coagulation cascades.
  • Significant age-dependent differences were observed in the proliferative capacity, pluripotency, and gene profiles of CSCs.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac resident stem/progenitor cells display significant age-dependent variations in their proliferative, differentiation, and gene expression profiles.
  • Aging compromises the regenerative potential of CSCs, highlighting the need for age-considerate therapeutic strategies.
  • Understanding these age-related changes is crucial for developing effective stem cell-based cardiac therapies.

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