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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence
Published on: May 1, 2017
Cellular Senescence in Heart Failure: A Review
Kamil Krauz1, Katarzyna Czarzasta1, Mikołaj Bugajewski1
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Cellular senescence contributes to heart failure (HF) development and progression. Targeting senescent cells and related plasma proteins offers potential therapeutic strategies for improving HF outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a growing global health concern with limited treatment options.
- Aging is a major risk factor for HF, and cellular senescence is increasingly implicated in its pathogenesis.
- The precise role of cellular senescence in HF is complex and cell-type dependent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the intricate relationship between cellular senescence and heart failure.
- To explore the potential of senescent cell markers in plasma as biomarkers and prognostic indicators for HF.
- To summarize current and emerging senescence-targeting therapeutics for HF.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies on cellular senescence and heart failure.
- Analysis of research on plasma proteins associated with cellular senescence in HF patients.
- Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting cellular senescence in the context of HF.
Main Results:
- Cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest, is a significant contributor to HF pathogenesis.
- Plasma proteins linked to senescence show promise as biomarkers and prognostic factors for HF.
- Targeting senescent cells presents a potential therapeutic avenue for HF treatment.
Conclusions:
- Cellular senescence plays a multifaceted role in the development and progression of heart failure.
- Further research into senescence-associated plasma proteins could refine HF diagnosis and prognosis.
- Senolytics and other senescence-targeting therapies warrant investigation for HF management.
Abstract:
Heart failure (HF) significantly limits survival and decreases quality of life. The global incidence of HF is rising. The pathogenesis of HF is not yet fully understood, which results in the present treatment options still being imperfect. Therefore, there is a need to deepen the knowledge about HF pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets. Aging increases the risk of developing HF. Recently, cellular senescence, a stable state of cell cycle arrest induced by various stressors or genomic damage, has been recognized to be involved in HF pathogenesis. Senescent cells may be involved in the development of age-related diseases. However, cellular senescence may occur in correlation with aging or be age-independent. Its impact is complex, especially since the heart is composed of different cell types, each of which may undergo senescence in diverse ways. Elimination of senescent cells also emerges as a potential treatment option. This article extensively reviews relations between cellular senescence and HF. Moreover, it describes the role of plasma proteins related to cellular senescence as potential biomarkers and prognostic factors in HF. This review also summarizes data concerning therapeutics targeting senescence in the HF context and implicates future research perspectives.
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