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Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence
Published on: May 1, 2017
Targeting CyclinD1-CDK6 to Mitigate Senescence-Driven Inflammation and Age-Associated Functional Decline
Adarsh Rajesh1, Aaron P Havas1, Rouven Arnold1
1Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program, La Jolla, CA.
Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and CDK6 drive inflammation in aging by promoting DNA damage in senescent cells. Inhibiting this pathway with Palbociclib reduces damage and frailty in aged mice, offering a new therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Aging Research
- Immunology
Background:
- Cellular senescence drives aging and inflammation via the Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs).
- Cyclin D1 (CCND1), a cell cycle regulator, is paradoxically increased in non-proliferating senescent cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CCND1 and CDK6 in driving SASP and ISG expression in senescent cells.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting the CCND1/CDK6 pathway in aging.
Main Methods:
- Investigated CCND1/CDK6 role in DNA damage accumulation and CGAS-STING signaling activation.
- Utilized hepatocyte-specific Ccnd1 knockout mice and Palbociclib treatment in aged mice.
- Assessed DNA damage, ISG expression, frailty, and physical performance.
Main Results:
- CCND1/CDK6 promote DNA damage, leading to cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCFs) that activate CGAS-STING signaling.
- p53/p21 pathway antagonizes CCND1-CDK6-driven DNA damage to suppress SASP.
- Ccnd1 knockout or Palbociclib treatment in aged mice reduced DNA damage, ISGs, frailty, and improved physical performance.
Conclusions:
- CCND1/CDK6 play a novel role in regulating DNA damage and inflammation in cellular senescence and aging.
- Targeting CCND1/CDK6 with inhibitors like Palbociclib shows promise for treating age-related inflammation and frailty.
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