Stem cell aging and wound healing

Aging is a natural process that promotes different pathologies and progressive functional losses of cells and tissues. Aging impacts stem cell reserve and function negatively, resulting in compromising tissue regeneration. Stem cell aging significantly impairs wound healing properties of different tissues due to the age-related aberrant changes like increased proinflammatory cytokines, accumulation of toxic metabolites, and senescence-associated molecules in the systemic milieu. The cascade of improper structural alterations leading to fibrosis is a serious concern in aged tissues upon injury due to the increased thickness/stiffness of extracellular matrix intermediated by matrix metalloproteinases. The aged-associated defects in the stem cell function can be revived by applying various exogenous interventions aiming at upregulating optimal reparative conditions for aged tissues. Thus, this chapter briefly covers the factors linked to impaired wound healing due to stem cell aging and enlists alternative treatment strategies to regulate tissue regeneration in aging.