Mechanisms and Research Progress of Stem Cells in Tissue Repair and Aging Intervention

Abstract

The accelerating aging population has made age-related degenerative diseases and impaired tissue repair major public health concerns. Owing to their capacities for self-renewal, multilineage differentiation, and immunomodulation, stem cells have demonstrated significant potential in tissue regeneration and aging intervention. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and their derived exosomes have achieved substantial experimental and clinical progress in the repair of bone, skin, myocardial, and nervous system injuries. Their therapeutic effects are mainly associated with paracrine regulation, remodeling of the immune microenvironment, promotion of angiogenesis, suppression of oxidative stress, and improvement of mitochondrial function, showing potential value in delaying cellular senescence phenotypes and alleviating age-related functional decline. This paper reviews the key mechanisms by which stem cells contribute to tissue repair and aging intervention, summarizes recent research progress, and further analyzes challenges in clinical translation, including safety risks, ethical controversies, and standardized preparation, with the aim of providing references for optimizing strategies in regenerative medicine and anti-aging interventions.