© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 71
P.V. Pham (ed.), Stem Cell Processing, Stem Cells in Clinical Applications,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-40073-0_3
Chapter 3
Ageing and Senescence in Mesenchymal
Stem Cells
Hitesh D. Tailor , Yiannis Pengas , and Wasim S. Khan
Stem cells are often described as being cells that have pluripotent ability when
grown in a desired culture environment. They are also described as being obtainable
from multiple sites of the human body. Much of the focus in the literature tends to
focus on the ideal growth factors or culture environment to induce growth towards
specifi c cell lineages. However, the focus in this chapter is on how donor age and
senescence of stem cells affect its usability and culture outcomes, particularly with
regard to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and established protocols for the chon-
drogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of these cells.
3.1 Donor age
Looking at the process of osteoporosis, Stenderup et al. ( 2001 ) isolated MSCs from
the iliac crest of volunteers in two distinct age groups : young (aged 22–44 years)
and old (aged 58–83 years). The older group was further divided into those with
known osteoporosis and those with normal bone architecture. They found that there
was no signifi cant difference in colony-forming effi ciency of cells. Cell density per
colony and percentage of alkaline phosphatase-positive (AP+) colonies between
H. D. Tailor (*)
University College London Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences,
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital , Stanmore HA7 4LP , UK
e-mail: [email protected]
Y. Pengas
Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics , Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro,
Cornwall , TR1 3LQ , UK
W. S. Khan
Division of Trauma & Orthopaedics, University of Cambridge , Addenbrooke’s Hospital ,
Cambridge , UK