title: Strategies and criteria for the development of molecular biomarkers of senescence.
abstract: While it may be possible to employ panels of molecular parameters which correlate with senescence in vivo or in vitro, in a manner analogous to the use of mutagenesis assays for economic carcinogen screening, such an endeavor would at present be impeded by the absence of a clear mechanistic rationale for focusing on particular biomarkers, and by the complexity of the senescent phenotype and its multilevel interactions. Nevertheless, insight into the mechanism(s) of senescence may derive indirectly from correlative studies, or directly from strategies of molecular intervention, provided that such studies meet reasonable criteria for relevance and functionality. Even the control of expression of a single gene may be quite complex, with multigenic interactions and the potential to produce a cascade affecting many downstream genes. In order to understand such processes, functional assays and selective systems will need to be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shmookler Reis
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D015335:Molecular Probes; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015335:Molecular Probes