SOMATIC STEM CELL AGING
Abstract.
Somatic stem cells are heterogeneous populations of undifferentiated cells found in the
body throughout most of postnatal life. Their leading role is to maintain tissue homeostasis.
Somatic stem cells age and these aging cells accumulate and contribute to various age-related
diseases. Different populations of somatic stem
cells age tissue-specifically, and the level of stem
cell aging depends on many internal and external factors. The exact
mechanisms underlying stem
cell aging are not fully understood. This review discusses current understanding and recent
discoveries regarding the effect of aging on stem cells, examples of signaling pathways involved
in
the aging process, and the influence of external factors on aging.
Keywords
: aging, somatic stem cells, differentiation, proliferation, tissue homeostasis
