Epigenetic Modifications upon Senescence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Cellular senescence is a continuous and highly organized process that alters the intricate genomic network in order to maintain cellular homeostasis. It occurs in all primary cell cultures—including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are concurrently tested for a wide variety of clinical applications. Differentiation potential as well as paracrine secretion of MSCs is severely affected by cellular senescence. There is a growing perception that nuclear reorganization and epigenetic modifications contribute to trigger and maintain functional differences in long-term culture. In this review, we discuss molecular and epigenetic aspects that evoke functional changes in cellular aging—indicating that the underlying process is not only an accumulation of cellular defects, but rather epigenetically orchestrated. © 2016, Springer International Publishing AG.