Role of Autophagy in Aging of Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Their Niche: Relevance in Clinical Transplantations and Regenerative Medicine

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is the only curative therapy for various malignant as well as nonmalignant disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anemia. Efficacy of clinical transplantation critically depends on functionality of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) present in the donor graft, and therefore, it is essential that every precaution should be taken to ensure that the donor HSCs possess good engraftment ability. Aging is known to cause decrease in the functionality of HSCs, and, therefore, clinicians prefer younger donors. However, if only a single HLA-matched aged donor is available, the patient may not be able to avail the life-saving SCT treatment. It is therefore necessary to device strategies to reverse the aging of HSCs. Here we shall review the available literature on the role of autophagy in the functionality of HSCs and their niche cells. We shall also discuss the importance of induction of autophagy in reversal of aging-mediated dysfunction in them and its relevance in clinical SCT and other regenerative medicine protocols.