Age-Dependent Regulation of F13A1 Expression in Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Independent of Sex: A Multivariate Analysis

Background: Aging is a complex multifactorial process characterized by molec- ular and cellular changes. Gene expression patterns alter with age, potentially contributing to age-related decline and disease. The F13A1 gene, encoding coag- ulation factor XIII A subunit, has been implicated in age-related processes, yet its expression dynamics in aging mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remain in- completely characterized. Objective: This study investigates the relationships between F13A1 gene expression, chronological age, and biological sex in human bone marrow-derived MSCs using multivariate statistical approaches. Methods: We analyzed gene expression data from 61 healthy donors (45 female, 16 male; age range 17–84 years) from a publicly available dataset. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, linear regression, t-tests, and multivariate regression models with interaction terms, were performed. Results: F13A1 expression showed a statistically significant positive correlation with age (r = 0.433, p < 0.001), explaining 18.7% of variance. No significant sex difference was observed (p = 0.385). Multivariate analysis confirmed age as the primary predic- tor (adjusted R2 = 0.159), with no significant age × sex interaction (p = 0.114). Age-stratified analysis revealed progressive increases across age groups (one-way ANOVA, p = 0.005). Conclusion: F13A1 expression increases with chronolog- ical age in MSCs independent of sex, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for biological aging in these therapeutically relevant cells.