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Updated: May 10, 2026
06:51
Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence
Published on: May 1, 2017
Senescence-associated lncRNAs: senescence-associated long noncoding RNAs
Kotb Abdelmohsen1, Amaresh Panda, Min-Ju Kang
1Laboratory of Genetics, National Institute on Aging-Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Aging Cell
|June 14, 2013
Summary
Researchers identified long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that change during cellular senescence. A novel lncRNA, SAL-RNA1, was found to delay senescence, suggesting lncRNAs regulate this aging process.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Noncoding RNAs, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are crucial regulators of cellular processes.
- While many lncRNAs have been identified, their functional roles, particularly in cellular senescence, remain largely uncharacterized.
- Cellular senescence is a complex aging process associated with altered gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are differentially expressed during replicative senescence in human fibroblasts.
- To functionally characterize novel senescence-associated lncRNAs (SAL-RNAs) and elucidate their role in the senescence pathway.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to compare lncRNA expression profiles between young (PDL 20) and senescent (PDL 52) human diploid WI-38 fibroblasts.
- Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to validate the expression levels of numerous lncRNAs, including novel SAL-RNAs.
- Functional experiments were conducted to assess the impact of SAL-RNA1 on senescence phenotypes.
Main Results:
- A significant number of known and novel lncRNAs showed altered expression levels between proliferating and senescent fibroblasts.
- Several novel senescence-associated lncRNAs (SAL-RNAs) were identified, with many exhibiting lower abundance in senescent cells.
- Reduced expression of SAL-RNA1 (XLOC_023166) accelerated the appearance of senescence hallmarks, including enlarged morphology, increased β-galactosidase activity, and elevated p53 levels.
Conclusions:
- The expression of both known and novel lncRNAs dynamically changes during cellular senescence.
- SAL-RNAs, particularly SAL-RNA1, play direct regulatory roles in the cellular senescence process.
- These findings highlight the importance of lncRNAs as key players in aging and cellular fate decisions.
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