[Misdirected intercellular communication in aging and chronic inflammation]

Intercellular communication refers to the various ways through which cells communicate with one another and exchange a wide range of messages. Aging leads to a shift from coordinated signal transmission to disrupted, uncoordinated communication, which is primarily caused by senescent cells and their secretome (senescence-associated secretory phenotype, SASP). This breakdown drives systemic aging and leads to dysfunction and inflammatory processes throughout the body. A translational approach now involves either reducing the number of senescent cells using senolytics or inhibiting their SASP using senomorphics. This approach, which has been successful in animal studies, is now to be translated to humans.