Published online Jan 26, 2017. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v9.i1.1
Peer-review started: July 5, 2016
First decision: August 11, 2016
Revised: August 22, 2016
Accepted: October 1, 2016
Article in press: October 9, 2016
Published online: January 26, 2017
Processing time: 198 Days and 5.6 Hours
Characterized by dysfunction of tissues, organs, organ systems and the whole organism, aging results from the reduced function of effective stem cell populations. Recent advances in aging research have demonstrated that old tissue stem cells can be rejuvenated for the purpose of maintaining the old-organ function by youthful re-calibration of the environment where stem cells reside. Biochemical cues regulating tissue stem cell function include molecular signaling pathways that interact between stem cells themselves and their niches. Historically, plasma fractions have been shown to contain factors capable of controlling age phenotypes; subsequently, signaling pathways involved in the aging process have been identified. Consequently, modulation of signaling pathways such as Notch/Delta, Wnt, transforming growth factor-β, JAK/STAT, mammalian target of rapamycin and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase has demonstrated potential to rejuvenate stem cell function leading to organismic rejuvenation. Several synthetic agents and natural sources, such as phytochemicals and flavonoids, have been proposed to rejuvenate old stem cells by targeting these pathways. However, several concerns still remain to achieve effective organismic rejuvenation in clinical settings, such as possible carcinogenic actions; thus, further research is still required.
Core tip: Functional loss of stem cells plays an important role in organismic aging processes. Recent advances in aging research have uncovered the molecular mechanisms of aging, specifically signaling pathways involved in interactions between stem cells and their environment, the so-called “stem cell niche”. Investigating plasma fraction factors has revealed several key pathways involved in this process, including Notch/Delta, Wnt, transforming growth factor-β, JAK/STAT, mammalian target of rapamycin and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Stem cell rejuvenation has the potential to lead organismic rejuvenation by modulating these pathways, hopefully by synthetic or natural agents such as phytochemicals and flavonoids.