Auto repair on the aging stem cell superhighway

Adult bone marrow stem cells offer the potential for rejuvenation of diseased or damaged tissues and organs. The greatest need for such a treatment in older individuals is to counter age-associated predisposition to cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, changes in senescent vascular function might limit the recruitment of bone marrow-derived precursor cells. In order to provide the patient with the conduits required to deliver bone marrow cells to damaged tissues, it is essential to develop strategies to overcome these limitations. This effort will require novel approaches to reverse aging-associated vascular dysfunction, including reharnessing the potential of stem cells from the aging bone marrow for vascular repair.