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Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration may decline significantly with age due to multiple factors.
- Age-related sarcopenia is characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function driven by stem cell exhaustion and dysfunction.
- Degenerative changes in the regenerative environment include cellular aging, persistent inflammation, and the conversion of muscle tissue to fat-like cells.
- Cell-based therapies aim to counteract regenerative failure through strategies such as replacing muscle fibers, enhancing natural repair processes, and modifying the immune response.
- Different stem cell populations, including satellite cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, pericytes, and hematopoietic stem cells, show a decline in numbers and function with age.
- Recent advances focus on improving the aging microenvironment and utilizing pluripotent stem cells to address variability and functional decline in primary cells.
- Key barriers to implementing these therapies in clinical settings include challenges in translating preclinical findings into effective treatments.
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