Senolytics and exercise: Dual modalities for rejuvenating muscle

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and regenerative medicine
• Cellular biology and aging research

Background:

• Mammalian aging involves a progressive decline in tissue homeostasis and repair capacity.
• Cellular senescence, induced by stressors, leads to senescent cell accumulation, contributing to age-related diseases and organ deterioration.
• Persistent senescent cells and their secretory phenotype (SASP) impair tissue regeneration and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of senolytics in rejuvenating cardiac and skeletal muscle.
• To assess whether targeting cellular senescence can reverse age-related phenotypes in these tissues.

Main Methods:

• Review of pre-clinical and clinical studies on senolytics.
• Analysis of research on exercise and physical activity as senolytic interventions.
• Evaluation of the impact of senescent cell clearance on tissue regeneration and function.

Main Results:

• Senolytics have demonstrated efficacy in improving cardiac and skeletal muscle regeneration, remodeling, and function in studies.
• Exercise and physical activity also exhibit senolytic effects.
• Eliminating senescent cells shows potential for reversing age-related dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Targeting cellular senescence with senolytics presents a promising therapeutic strategy for age-related decline.
• Senolytics and exercise may offer pathways to rejuvenate heart and skeletal muscle, counteracting the aging phenotype.