Rapamycin plus nicotinamide in aged donor mesenchymal stromal cells
In this abstract, mesenchymal stromal cells from elderly donors were treated in vitro with rapamycin and nicotinamide for one culture passage; treated cells showed increased replicative capacity and reduced senescence-associated features, with changes linked to AMPK/mTOR activity and autophagy. The authors call for preclinical confirmation. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Aged MSCs from elderly donors were cultured with rapamycin (10 nM) and nicotinamide (5 mM) for one culture passage. [1]
Treated cells showed increased replicative capacity, decreased p16 and p21, and reduced senescence-associated changes including lower β-galactosidase and reactive oxygen species. [1]
The authors state these short-term in vitro findings require confirmation in further preclinical studies for long-term stability and in vivo relevance. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- In vitro experimental study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from elderly donors
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- June 30, 2026
Aged donor cells and short-term in vitro treatment
The abstract describes mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) isolated from elderly donors and cultured with rapamycin (10 nM) and nicotinamide (NAM, 5 mM) for the duration of one culture passage. The stated context is regenerative medicine: donor age is said to limit autologous cell therapy because cells from aged individuals are fewer and show a senescent profile. The authors link this to dysregulation of the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway. This is an in vitro experiment on aged donor cells, not a human treatment study.
Supporting source [1]
Senescence features and osteogenic differentiation after treatment
According to the abstract, treated aged MSCs showed increased replicative capacity and decreased p16 and p21 expression. The treatment attenuated senescence-associated changes: lower β-galactosidase expression, fewer dysfunctional lysosomes, reduced total cellular reactive oxygen species and improved osteogenic differentiation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 were also reduced. The authors describe this as a partial reversal of senescence-associated features, associated with altered AMPK, mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity and autophagy modulation. These are measured cell-level outcomes in culture; they do not establish clinical benefit.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and need for preclinical confirmation
The authors suggest that short-term in vitro treatment with rapamycin and NAM could potentially yield higher-quality autologous MSCs with improved functional characteristics, possibly improving clinical outcomes of cell-based therapies in the elderly. They explicitly state that these short-term in vitro findings require confirmation in further preclinical studies to assess long-term stability and in vivo relevance. This explainer is based on the abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. No human outcomes, dosing for people or safety conclusions can be drawn from this abstract.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Findings are from in vitro cell culture, not human outcomes, and the authors call for further preclinical confirmation.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Khorraminejad-Shirazi M, Sani M, Falamarzi K, Sani F, Dehghan Y, Nazari MB, Hassannia E, Aminnia S, Mosalamiaghili S, Mokarram P, Ghaffari B, Mokhtari M, Azarpira N. · europepmc.org · June 30, 2026