Stem cell therapy and gene regulation in aging prevention: current evidence and clinical perspectives

Aging is a complex biological process marked by the gradual decline in cellular integrity and physiological functions,leading to higher vulnerability to degenerative diseases. Advances in regenerative medicine and molecular geneticsindicate that combining stem cell therapy with gene regulation can effectively delay or reverse aging. Interventionsusing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their extracellular vesicles demonstrate significant anti-aging benefitsby enhancing tissue regeneration, reducing inflammation, and modulating oxidative stress via paracrine signaling.Notably, early Phase I and II clinical studies report that allogeneic MSC infusions can improve physical performanceand reduce inflammatory biomarkers in age-related frailty, while stem cell-derived secretomes show promise in skinrejuvenation. Moreover, emerging gene modulation strategies, including CRISPR/Cas9, base and prime editing, andmiRNA regulation, enable targeted rejuvenation by stabilizing telomeres, improving mitochondrial function, andreprogramming epigenetic memory, although direct human clinical trials for aging prevention remain limited. Thisreview consolidates current evidence on the synergistic potential of stem cell therapies and gene regulatory systemsin aging prevention, discusses key translational challenges such as genomic instability, immune responses, manufacturing constraints, and safe delivery of gene-edited cells, and outlines future directions toward precise, safe, andpersonalized anti-aging interventions integrating regenerative biology with advanced genetic engineering.