Scientists determine stem cells' 'age'

La Jolla, Calif. -- U.S. scientists discovered that during the aging process stem cells lose the ability to replenish themselves.

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies said a stem cell's immediate neighborhood -- a specialized environment also known as the stem cell niche -- provides crucial support needed for stem cell maintenance. But scientists discovered that level of support diminishes during aging, thereby affecting stem cells’ ability to indefinitely self-renew.

"The notion that the stem cell microenvironment is aging will certainly influence how we think about using stem cells in regenerative medicine," said Assistant Professor Leanne Jones, who led the study. "You can manipulate stem cells and propagate them in a dish but many recipients of stem cell replacement therapies will be older individuals. If the stem cell niche has aged, it might not be capable of supporting the transplanted stem cells."

The findings are discussed in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

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