It has become common for patients to receive first generation stem cell therapy using transplanted cells derived from fat tissue, which may or may not actually be stem cells. While these therapies do offer some degree of benefit in suppressing inflammation, there is considerable variability in outcomes between patients and clinics. This may be due to the emergence of cellular senescence in transplanted cells, an area of ongoing investigation. Various approaches have been explored to enhance the benefits of transplanted cells for patients, with the research highlighted here being just one example.
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been widely used in translational and regenerative medicine. However, as these cells age, their therapeutic effectiveness diminishes. The mechanisms behind this aging-induced dysfunction are not yet fully understood, presenting a need for further investigation and strategies to reverse this impairment.
This study found that ADSCs from older donors exhibited decreased levels of miR-145-5p, which affected their function. Experimentation showed that overexpression of miR-145-5p in these cells promoted proliferation, migration, and reduced senescence. Additionally, miR-145-5p was found to regulate ADSCs by targeting a crucial modulator in angiogenesis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that miR-145-5p-overexpressing ADSCs accelerated wound healing.
In conclusion, this study suggests that miR-145-5p serves as a positive regulator for enhancing the function of aging ADSCs, offering a potential therapeutic target for addressing age-related impairments in stem cell function.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.060117
