Fight Aging!

A sizable number of humans have received first generation stem cell therapies, with considerable variation in protocols and sources of cells. Only a small fraction of these patients and treatments resulted in data that was robustly recorded and made available to the rest of the world, as only a small fraction of those patients were participants in clinical trials. Stem cell therapies (and, given more time, likely exosome therapies as well) have an entirely justified reputation as being unreliable in outcome. The available evidence suggests a fairly reliable reduction in chronic inflammation for a period of months, but whether or not a patient exhibits improved function in tissues, and to what degree, is a roll of the dice.

One of the reasons why the world at large, patients, clinicians, and researchers alike, continues to engage with these forms of therapy, beyond the point that reducing chronic inflammation is a highly desirable outcome, is that a broad range of animal studies do show improvements in tissue function, extension of life, and reversal of measures of disease to result from stem cell or exosome therapies. Today's open access paper is a concise review of a few dozen such studies. One might think that where there is smoke there is fire, and perhaps the unreliability in human patients is caused by an incomplete understanding how small differences in protocol and cell culture give rise to large differences in the quality of the therapy, and perhaps one can just pick the right clinic and the right technicians. Those patients with bad results thought just the same way as those with good results, of course.

Stem Cell and Exosome Treatment for Organ Health and Longevity

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into a variety of different types of human cells, including, but not limited to, bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, and nerve. MSCs can be isolated from various tissue sources, such as umbilical cord, placenta, dental pulp, bone marrow, and fat. MSCs and exosomes have anti-inflammatory, pro-healing, and immunomodulatory effects. MSCs exert these effects by secreting growth factors and cytokines such as transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-β1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which assist with modulating the body's immune response. MSCs also secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. These EVs, exosomes in particular are small vesicles, approximately 100-200 nanometers in diameter and have emerged as potential therapeutic options in various disorders, as they contain various proteins, miRNA, and DNA.

Stem cells have been shown to be effective in treating a variety of disorders. They are also often promulgated as effective in improving overall health and increasing lifespan in otherwise clinically healthy individuals. However, there are limited evidence-based studies examining the effects of stem cells and exosomes on longevity and the potential for improved health in nonpathological human organs. While there is a general agreement that stem cells and exosomes have potential to be helpful to organ aging and longevity, there has not yet been a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation of this thought.

Through a review of the scientific literature, we sought to determine whether there is scientific evidence to support the use of MSCs and exosomes to reverse tissue and organ aging, improve function, and increase longevity and overall health in the absence of specific disease states. We chose a total of 34 different preclinical studies using stem cells and/or exosomes that were performed in mice, rats, or macaques. We believe that these 34 studies were an adequate amount for this review to showcase the anti-aging effects of MSCs, exosomes, and EVs. Stem cell treatment appears to increase longevity, and both stem cell and exosome treatments are effective in rejuvenating and improving tissue and organ function in mammalian systems. Stem cells can extend overall mammalian lifespan. Transplantation of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells can restore bone density in mice. MSCs have a regenerative effect on aging muscles in mice. Both stem cells and exosomes have a rejuvenative effect on animal organ systems. Stem cells and exosomes improve organ function in the absence of pathological states.