Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases

Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and their exosomes (MSC-Exos) have great potential for tissue repair and regenerative medicine, which can improve the symptoms and prognosis of aging-related diseases and potentially slow the aging process through multiple pathways. This comprehensive r...

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Main Authors: Hang Li, Lin Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04318-1
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author Hang Li
Lin Bai
author_facet Hang Li
Lin Bai
author_sort Hang Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and their exosomes (MSC-Exos) have great potential for tissue repair and regenerative medicine, which can improve the symptoms and prognosis of aging-related diseases and potentially slow the aging process through multiple pathways. This comprehensive review summarizes the characterization of MSCs and MSC-Exos from various tissue sources and their applications in treating diseases associated with aging, such as premature ovarian failure (POF), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), atherosclerosis (AS), and osteoporosis (OP). MSCs exert therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including differentiation into various cell types, secretion of bioactive molecules, and immune response regulation. MSC-Exos, which contain a diverse array of proteins, miRNAs, and other biomolecules, can deliver MSC-derived bioinformatics to target cells and demonstrate comparable therapeutic benefits to MSCs. This review highlights the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs and MSC-Exos in age-related diseases, and further discusses the importance of MSC and MSC-Exo tissue source selection for specific disease applications and the potential of combination therapies and preconditioning strategies to enhance their therapeutic outcomes. Despite promising preclinical and clinical results, challenges such as uneven distribution, in vivo environmental maladaptation, apoptosis, and immune responses need to be addressed before widespread clinical application. Future research requires multidisciplinary collaboration to further elucidate the mechanisms of action and develop optimized therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of age-related pathologies using MSCs and MSC-Exos.
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spelling doaj-art-1ac3b2da88e24ef18bbcc12646a0f3992025-08-20T04:01:52ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122025-07-0116111910.1186/s13287-025-04318-1Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseasesHang Li0Lin Bai1Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource Center, CAMS & PUMC, National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal ModelInstitute of Laboratory Animal Science, National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource Center, CAMS & PUMC, National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal ModelAbstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and their exosomes (MSC-Exos) have great potential for tissue repair and regenerative medicine, which can improve the symptoms and prognosis of aging-related diseases and potentially slow the aging process through multiple pathways. This comprehensive review summarizes the characterization of MSCs and MSC-Exos from various tissue sources and their applications in treating diseases associated with aging, such as premature ovarian failure (POF), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), atherosclerosis (AS), and osteoporosis (OP). MSCs exert therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including differentiation into various cell types, secretion of bioactive molecules, and immune response regulation. MSC-Exos, which contain a diverse array of proteins, miRNAs, and other biomolecules, can deliver MSC-derived bioinformatics to target cells and demonstrate comparable therapeutic benefits to MSCs. This review highlights the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs and MSC-Exos in age-related diseases, and further discusses the importance of MSC and MSC-Exo tissue source selection for specific disease applications and the potential of combination therapies and preconditioning strategies to enhance their therapeutic outcomes. Despite promising preclinical and clinical results, challenges such as uneven distribution, in vivo environmental maladaptation, apoptosis, and immune responses need to be addressed before widespread clinical application. Future research requires multidisciplinary collaboration to further elucidate the mechanisms of action and develop optimized therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of age-related pathologies using MSCs and MSC-Exos.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04318-1Mesenchymal stem/Stromal cellsExosomesAging-related diseasesCell therapy
spellingShingle Hang Li
Lin Bai
Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Mesenchymal stem/Stromal cells
Exosomes
Aging-related diseases
Cell therapy
title Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
title_full Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
title_fullStr Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
title_full_unstemmed Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
title_short Advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies for aging and age-related diseases
title_sort advances in mesenchymal stem cell and exosome based therapies for aging and age related diseases
topic Mesenchymal stem/Stromal cells
Exosomes
Aging-related diseases
Cell therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04318-1
work_keys_str_mv AT hangli advancesinmesenchymalstemcellandexosomebasedtherapiesforagingandagerelateddiseases
AT linbai advancesinmesenchymalstemcellandexosomebasedtherapiesforagingandagerelateddiseases