Cell Senescence and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
The aging phenomenon involves complex interconnected processes on multiple levels of organization resulting in decreased homeostasis denoted by organ dysfunctions. The chronic inflammation is progressing at the tissue level and acts as a driver of many age-related diseases. Nowadays, the researchers are considered cell senescence as one of the central hallmarks of aging manifesting as qualitative and quantitative changes of cellular composition and intercellular communication in tissues. The impairment of adult stem cell compartments could be a primary cause of senescence at cellular level. The review highlights the modern concepts of aging at the cellular level. Particular attention is devoted to mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) involved in tissue homeostasis maintenance. Age-related alterations of MSC functions in tissue niches including immunomodulatory activity, hematopoiesis, and paracrine regulation are discussed. Also, the approaches to MSC modification in vitro to attenuate the negative effects of senescence are considered.