Our commentary on stem cell aging in out now in Blood. In which we discuss a new research article that sheds light on the role of niche cells in hematopoietic stem cell aging. The Trowbridge lab reveals that a reduction in signals from mesenchymal stromal cells is in part responsible for the impaired hematopoiesis that occurs during aging. Yet a big open question remains: are the age-related changes to HSCs due to aged niche cells directly, or due to changes in cell-cell communication to HSCs mediated by systemic factors.
