Cardiac aging — Getting to the stem of the problem

Abstract

Cardiac aging is a heterogeneous process caused by a combination of stochastic events which manifests as loss of structure and function in the heart, however several recent studies draw attention to aging being primarily a stem cell problem. This review summarizes findings in support of the “stem cell hypothesis of aging” and discusses the impact of age on cardiac stem cells and the niche.

Decline in cellular function of aged mouse c‐kit+ cardiac progenitor cells

“…It has been suggested that the decline in regenerative capacity of stem cells contributes to the loss of organ function and tissue homeostasis (Hariharan & Sussman, ). Taking advantage of the relatively short mouse lifespan, genetically modified mouse models have been used to study CPC activity during ageing (Cottage et al .…”

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“…While CPCs display promise in the treatment of cardiac disease via myocardial repair and regeneration, the normal aging process can induce senescence, reduce stem‐like characteristics, and impair regenerative potential 19,20 . In the hope of delineating the mechanisms controlling the loss of regenerative potential during aging, researchers led by Nirmala Hariharan (University of California at Davis, California) recently evaluated the influence of age‐associated factors, such as telomere length, p53 expression, and autophagy in modulating CPC fate through comparative analyses of model mice displaying greatly differing telomere lengths.…”

Mechanics of Microenvironment as Instructive Cues Guiding Stem Cell Behavior

“…Mechanical rigidity is mostly persistent but can change during development, aging, or in response to remodeling ( Fig. 2c) [62]. Within an adult tissue after injury, resident stem cells divide and may differentiate into the cells belonging to the tissue type partly in response to the specific range of rigidity of the tissue.…”