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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Induction and Validation of Cellular Senescence in Primary Human Cells
Published on: June 20, 2018
CSGene: a literature-based database for cell senescence genes and its application to identify critical cell aging
1School of Engineering, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558, Australia.
Abstract:
Cell senescence is a cellular process in which normal diploid cells cease to replicate and is a major driving force for human cancers and aging-associated diseases. Recent studies on cell senescence have identified many new genetic components and pathways that control cell aging. However, there is no comprehensive resource for cell senescence that integrates various genetic studies and relationships with cell senescence, and the risk associated with complex diseases such as cancer is still unexplored. We have developed the first literature-based gene resource for exploring cell senescence genes, CSGene. We complied 504 experimentally verified genes from public data resources and published literature. Pathway analyses highlighted the prominent roles of cell senescence genes in the control of rRNA gene transcription and unusual rDNA repeat that constitute a center for the stability of the whole genome. We also found a strong association of cell senescence with HIV-1 infection and viral carcinogenesis that are mainly related to promoter/enhancer binding and chromatin modification processes. Moreover, pan-cancer mutation and network analysis also identified common cell aging mechanisms in cancers and uncovered a highly modular network structure. These results highlight the utility of CSGene for elucidating the complex cellular events of cell senescence.
Insights
We created CSGene, a new database of 504 genes linked to cell senescence, aging, and cancer. This resource aids in understanding the genetic basis of aging and associated diseases like cancer.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cell senescence, the cessation of cell replication, drives cancer and aging-related diseases.
- Existing research identifies numerous genetic factors in cell aging, but lacks a unified resource.
- The link between cell senescence genes and complex disease risk, particularly cancer, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop the first literature-based gene resource, CSGene, for studying cell senescence.
- To integrate diverse genetic studies and relationships concerning cell senescence.
- To explore the disease risks, especially cancer, associated with cell senescence genes.
Main Methods:
- Compiled 504 experimentally verified cell senescence genes from public databases and literature.
- Performed pathway analyses to identify key biological processes.
- Conducted pan-cancer mutation and network analyses.
Main Results:
- CSGene integrates 504 experimentally verified genes related to cell senescence.
- Pathway analysis revealed cell senescence genes' critical roles in rRNA gene transcription and genome stability.
- Strong associations were found between cell senescence, HIV-1 infection, and viral carcinogenesis, involving chromatin modification.
- Pan-cancer analysis identified shared aging mechanisms and modular network structures in cancers.
Conclusions:
- CSGene is a valuable resource for investigating cell senescence.
- The findings highlight the importance of cell senescence in genome stability, viral carcinogenesis, and cancer development.
- CSGene facilitates a deeper understanding of the complex cellular events in aging and disease.
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