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Senescent Cells: Emerging Targets for Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Shuling Song1, Eric W-F Lam2, Tamara Tchkonia3

  • 1School of Gerontology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong 264003, China; Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.

Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|June 13, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cellular senescence, a key aging process, shows promise for treating age-related diseases. Eliminating senescent cells may prevent or alleviate multiple chronic conditions, extending human healthspan.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Cellular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Aging is a significant risk factor for major human diseases, including cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative conditions, and cancers.
  • While aging mechanisms are complex, targeting fundamental aging processes offers potential to delay or treat age-related disorders.
  • Cellular senescence, though beneficial in some contexts, plays a causal role in numerous chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular connections between cellular senescence and age-associated diseases.
  • To highlight emerging therapeutic strategies for targeting senescent cells.
  • To discuss the potential of senolytic therapies in geriatric medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on cellular senescence and aging.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways linking senescence to age-related pathologies.
  • Evaluation of emerging therapeutic approaches targeting senescent cells.

Main Results:

  • Cellular senescence is implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases.
  • Selective ablation of senescent cells demonstrates feasibility and safety in preclinical studies.
  • Targeting senescent cells presents a promising therapeutic avenue for multiple age-related conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular senescence is a druggable target for a range of age-related pathologies.
  • Senolytic therapies hold significant potential for improving healthspan and treating geriatric conditions.
  • Further research into targeting senescent cells could revolutionize geriatric medicine.
Keywords:
SASPcellular senescenceclinical trialsgerosciencesenolytics

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