2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (24): 3914-3920

Effect and mechanism of mesenchymal stem cells on aging-related ischemic stroke

Chen Na, Wang Xiaohan, Zhang Yunke   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Aging has an important relationship with the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke. Mesenchymal stem cells have the functions of self-renewal, differentiation and secretion, and may play a certain role in the treatment of ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE: To review the relationship between aging and ischemic stroke and the mechanism of action of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of aging-related ischemic stroke.
METHODS: The articles on the relationship between aging and ischemic stroke and mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of ischemic stroke published from 2006 to 2021 were searched in Wanfang, CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science. The key words were “aging, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), ischemic stroke” in Chinese and English. A total of 58 articles were included for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate and secrete nutritional factors and vesicles and can be used for the treatment of aging-related ischemic stroke. (2) The pathological process of aging includes the accumulation of senescent cells to activate the secretion of inflammatory factors related to aging, which deteriorates the microenvironment of cell survival. The inflammatory response makes neurovascular unit damage after aging even worse. Oxidative stress causes the destruction of intracellular mitochondrial structure and dysfunction. The shortening of grains and changes in genetic material are closely related to aging and affect the stability of atherosclerosis, and are closely related to the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke. (3) The action mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of aging-related ischemic stroke mainly include: removing senescent cells and blocking the damage of inflammatory mediator pathways, inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, reducing inflammation, neurogenesis, promoting nerve function repair, increasing cerebral blood flow, promoting angiogenesis, secreting exosomes and having similar function of mesenchymal stem cells, which can provide relevant reference for mesenchymal stem cell treatment of ischemic stroke in the future. (4) Although mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can play a role in the treatment of ischemic stroke, it needs to be further resolved that the migration rate and distribution after transplantation, the types and distribution of differentiated cells, survival rate, proliferation, brain three-dimensional local injection or arteriovenous injection. Exploring more effective transplantation strategies is a key factor in order to prevent atherosclerosis and stroke by combination with anti-aging drugs in the future.
Key words: cell senescence, mesenchymal stem cells, ischemic stroke, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, inflammatory response, exosomes, telomere