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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Evaluation of Injury-induced Senescence and In Vivo Reprogramming in the Skeletal Muscle
Published on: October 26, 2017
Senescence as a Driver of Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity and Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
Lisa Steegen1,2, Mandy O J Grootaert2
1Pole of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
Cell senescence is increasingly recognized as a key driver of atherosclerosis progression. Senescent smooth muscle cells (SMCs) lose their proliferative capacity and adopt a pro-inflammatory profile, contributing to impaired vessel repair and weakening of the fibrous cap. Moreover, senescence promotes SMC dedifferentiation and phenotypic modulation into unfavorable phenotypes associated with plaque destabilization. In this review, we will discuss how cell senescence is induced in atherosclerotic plaques, how this influences SMC plasticity, and how this impacts plaque stability. We will also evaluate the potential of current and experimental anti-atherosclerotic drugs to target SMC senescence and/or SMC phenotypic modulation.
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