Lympho-hematopoietic stem cells and their aging

Abstract

The lympho-hematopoietic system is largely composed of cells with short lifespans (days) and thus requires continuous replenishment of the cells lost through hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in a process called hematopoiesis. Experimental evidence from several laboratories clearly demonstrates that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) harvested from young and aged animals show functional differences that are intrinsic to HSCs, implying that also stem cells in the hematopoietic system can not defy aging. We will thus discuss in this chapter the cellular phenotypes and the possible molecular mechanisms associated with aged HSCs with respect to the specific properties stem cells are endowed with, and will investigate whether stem cell aging is inevitable or whether some of its aspects can be reverted or at least ameliorated.