Could Metabolic Syndrome, Lipodystrophy, and Aging Be Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exhaustion Syndromes?

• Published in: Stem cells international Vol. 2011; no. 2011; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Mártire, Karina, Marin, Gustavo Horacio, Zambón, Daniel, Díaz Aquino, Vanina, Mansilla, Eduardo, Roque, Gustavo, Ichim, Thomas, Riordan, Neil H., Patel, Amit, Sturla, Flavio, Larsen, Gustavo, Spretz, Rubén, Núñez, Luis, Soratti, Carlos, Ibar, Ricardo, van Leeuwen, Michiel, Tau, José María, Drago, Hugo, Maceira, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Puplishing Corporation 01-01-2011; SAGE-Hindawi Access to Research; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Metabolic syndrome X; Review; Risk factors; Stem cells; Transplantation; United States
• ISSN: 1687-966X; 1687-9678; 1687-9678
• DOI: 10.4061/2011/943216

One of the most important and complex diseases of modern society is metabolic syndrome. This syndrome has not been completely understood, and therefore an effective treatment is not available yet. We propose a possible stem cell mechanism involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. This way of thinking lets us consider also other significant pathologies that could have similar etiopathogenic pathways, like lipodystrophic syndromes, progeria, and aging. All these clinical situations could be the consequence of a progressive and persistent stem cell exhaustion syndrome (SCES). The main outcome of this SCES would be an irreversible loss of the effective regenerative mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) pools. In this way, the normal repairing capacities of the organism could become inefficient. Our point of view could open the possibility for a new strategy of treatment in metabolic syndrome, lipodystrophic syndromes, progeria, and even aging: stem cell therapies.