Cellular senescence and cardiovascular diseases: moving to the "heart" of the problem

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cell Biology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of global mortality and disability.
• Cellular senescence is increasingly recognized as a contributor to adverse cardiac outcomes in various CVDs, including cardiomyopathies.
• Senescent cells exhibit metabolic rewiring and a pro-inflammatory secretome that negatively impacts cardiac function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the hallmarks and molecular pathways of cellular senescence in the cardiac context.
• To summarize the role of senescence in different types of CVDs.
• To discuss the emerging field of senotherapeutics, specifically senolytics, for treating heart disease.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on cellular senescence and cardiovascular diseases.
• Recapitulation of key molecular pathways and hallmarks of cardiac senescence.
• Analysis of current senotherapeutic strategies and their potential application in cardiac conditions.

Main Results:

• Cellular senescence is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.
• The unique secretome of senescent cells contributes to cardiac dysfunction and disease progression.
• Senolytics represent a promising therapeutic avenue for managing cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions:

• Understanding cardiac senescence is crucial for developing novel treatments for heart disease.
• Targeting senescent cells with senolytics offers a potential strategy to improve cardiac outcomes.
• Further research into senotherapeutics is warranted to explore their clinical efficacy in cardiovascular conditions.