Mechanisms of hematopoietic stem cell aging

New blood cells are continually produced from the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that reside in the bone marrow. Throughout the life-span of the organism, this stem cell reservoir sustains life. Although HSCs can persist in vivo longer than one life-span (Harrison et al., 1978), with aging, HSC regenerative potential diminishes and skewing from lymphopoiesis toward myelopoiesis occurs. The expansion in the HSC pool with aging provides sufficient, yet abnormal, blood production. Examination of gene expression changes in aged HSCs has provided a link between aging and genomic instability. Furthermore, studies on the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on HSC aging has given more insight into the reasons for HSC failure. Understanding of the interactions between niche cells and HSCs and changes in them with aging, may give us insights into the lineage skewing phenotype observed in the aged, and also other immune dysfunctions.