Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2025
08:56
Simultaneous Imaging and Flow-Cytometry-based Detection of Multiple Fluorescent Senescence Markers in Therapy-Induced Senescent Cancer Cells
Published on: July 12, 2022
3.0K
Mass Cytometry as a Tool for Investigating Senescence in Multiple Model Systems
Amina Abdul-Aziz1, Raymond D Devine2, Justin M Lyberger2
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Cells
|August 26, 2023
Summary
Mass cytometry (MC) enables single-cell analysis of cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest. This technique reveals changes in p16 expression and chromatin marks across various models, enhancing senescence research.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cellular senescence is a fundamental biological process characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest.
- It is triggered by various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors, including aging and DNA damage.
- Understanding senescence mechanisms is crucial for addressing age-related diseases and cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish mass cytometry (MC) as a robust platform for single-cell analysis of cellular senescence.
- To investigate changes in key senescence markers like p16INK4a expression and histone modifications.
- To explore senescence induction in different cell types and stress conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mass cytometry (MC) for high-dimensional single-cell protein analysis.
- Applied MC to various senescent model systems, including bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) and WI-38 fibroblasts.
- Employed Wanderlust trajectory analysis to correlate protein expression dynamics.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated increased p16INK4a expression and altered chromatin marks in senescent cells across multiple models.
- Observed senescence induction in WI-38 cells via culture and oxidative stress (OSIS).
- Identified p16INK4a upregulation and an exhausted phenotype in human T cells upon repetitive stimulation, with elevated EOMES and TOX expression.
Conclusions:
- Mass cytometry (MC) is a powerful tool for high-resolution, multi-parametric analysis of cellular senescence at the single-cell level.
- MC facilitates the simultaneous measurement of multiple senescence markers, improving the understanding of senescent pathways.
- This approach offers new insights into T cell exhaustion and senescence in various biological contexts.
