Extracellular Vesicles in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Aging is characterized by a decline in organ function and a loss of tissue repair ability. Consequently, the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases has increased, accompanied by an elevated risk of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, cancer, and osteoporosis. Aging and age-related diseases impose a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, developing strategies for preventing, delaying, or alleviating multiple age-related diseases is imperative. Cellular senescence is specifically attributed to the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is the primary factor of the aging microenvironment. Emerging evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play crucial roles in mediating senescent cells and their microenvironment. Their communication among cells and organs is closely associated with the transmission of aging signals in the context of age-related diseases. In addition, the ability of EVs from young plasma to promote tissue regeneration suggested that stem cell-derived EVs could be used therapeutically for rejuvenation. Here, we focus on the characteristics of stem cells and EVs, as well as the potential applications of stem cell- and EV-based therapies in aging and age-related chronic diseases.