Injury and regeneration in renal aging

Abstract Aging is an inevitable, multifactorial process, which occurs on both systemic and organ levels. Body organs age at different rates and are influenced by circulating factors. In the kidney, the already multifaceted aging process is further underlined by the heterogeneity of the renal tissue. Cell senescence is the key feature of the aging kidney. Cell turnover, differentiation, and function determine susceptibility to cell senescence and also the regenerative capacity of tissue after injury. Tissue regeneration capacity during aging is reduced, and a complex interplay between cell senescence, proliferation, and regeneration occurs. In this chapter, we discuss the mechanisms of aging, cell-specific basis for cell senescence and regeneration, and strategies to halt renal aging progression.