title: [Cellular senescence and the myth of Janus].
abstract: Cellular senescence is, essentially, a permanent proliferation arrest induced by various cellular stresses or inappropriate stimuli. This arrest, which is associated with dramatic changes in cell morphology, metabolism and gene expression, involves a complex signalling network aiming at stable inactivation of CDKs, major cell cycle regulators. Notably, several tumour suppressors, such as p53, pRb or p16(Ink4a), play key roles both in the initiation of the senescence program and in its maintenance, which often involves epigenetic changes. While having widely recognized roles in tumour suppression and wound healing, senescence, like the roman god Janus, recently revealed another darker face. Mostly due to altered secretion phenotype favouring inflammation, senescent cells strongly influence surrounding tissue contributing to the development of age-related pathologies, including cancer.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U844, Université de Montpellier Sud, Institut des neurosciences de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brondello
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieur
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Philipot
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lemaitre
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lenaers
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Vjekoslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dulić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases