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Spatial mapping of cellular senescence: emerging challenges and opportunities
Aditi U Gurkar1, Akos A Gerencser2, Ana L Mora3
1Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC and Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Mapping senescent cells, key to aging and disease, is challenging due to marker scarcity and heterogeneity. New spatial imaging methods are crucial for creating a comprehensive atlas of these cells.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cellular Biology
- Biomedical Imaging and Spatial Omics
Background:
- Cellular senescence drives aging and age-related diseases.
- Mapping senescent cells faces challenges: lack of specific markers, low abundance, and heterogeneity.
- Existing single-cell technologies lack spatial resolution, which is critical for understanding cell-cell communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing and emerging spatial imaging methodologies for mapping senescent cells.
- To discuss the limitations and challenges of current spatial technologies.
- To highlight the importance of spatial insights for senescence research and the SenNet initiative.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of spatial imaging techniques.
- Analysis of methodologies applicable to senescent cell detection and spatial mapping.
- Discussion of technological challenges and future directions.
Main Results:
- Identification of various spatial imaging techniques suitable for senescence mapping.
- Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of each method in the context of senescent cells.
- Highlighting the critical need for spatially resolved data to understand senescence.
Conclusions:
- Spatially resolved methods are essential for creating a comprehensive atlas of senescent cells.
- Overcoming technological limitations is key to advancing senescence research.
- The Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet) initiative aims to map senescent cells across the human and mouse lifespan.
