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. 2021 Sep 29;22(19):10547. doi: 10.3390/ijms221910547

Table 1.

Summary of studies using organoids to model aging.

Type of Organoid Addressed Hallmark of Aging Main Findings Reference
Gut Stem cell exhaustion; deregulated nutrient sensing Lower O.F.E.; altered crypt formation [21,22,23,24,25]
Epigenetic changes; cellular senescence Increased senescence markers; altered DNA methylation [21,26,27]
Stem cell exhaustion; deregulated nutrient sensing CR increased O.F.E.; reduced mTOR signaling [28,29]
Stem cell exhaustion; deregulated nutrient sensing NR supplementation increased O.F.E. [30]
Altered intercellular communication Chronic inflammation led to NF-κB activation and cellular transformation [31]
Genomic instability Tissue-specific mutational profile; tumor development [32,33]
Liver Genomic instability Tissue-specific mutational profile; tumor development [32,34]
Skin Cellular senescence; altered intercellular communication Increased senescence markers; decreased ECM synthesis [35,36,37]
Cellular senescence; altered intercellular communication Adipose stem cells prevent skin senescence [38]
Altered intercellular communication Altered TGF-β/Smad signaling [39]
Tendon Stem cell exhaustion; cellular senescence; altered intercellular communication Lower O.F.E; decreased ECM synthesis; increased senescent markers [40]
Lung Stem cell exhaustion; cellular senescence; telomer attrition Lower O.F.E; shortened telomeres; increased senescent markers [41]
Breast Genomic instability Tumor development [42]
Gastric Genomic instability; epigenetic changes; altered intercellular communication PDO characterization; altered Wnt signaling [43]
Pancreatic Genomic instability; altered intercellular communication PDO characterization; altered Wnt signaling [44]
Brain Loss of proteostasis Amyloid plaques and tau aggregates [45,46]

O.F.E.: organoid formation efficiency; CR: calorie restriction; NR: nicotinamide riboside; ECM: extracellular matrix; PDO: patient-derived organoids.