The role of senescent cells in ageing.
Cellular senescence has historically been viewed as an irreversible cell-cycle arrest mechanism that acts to protect against cancer, but recent discoveries have extended its known role to complex biological processes such as development, tissue repair, ageing and age-related disorders. New insights indicate that, unlike a static endpoint, senescence represents a series of progressive and phenotypically diverse cellular states acquired after the initial growth arrest. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the multi-step progression of senescence and the development and function of acute versus chronic senescent cells may lead to new therapeutic strategies for age-related pathologies and extend healthy lifespan.
Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Jan M
JM
van Deursen
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological