Efforts Continue to Understand the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype

While the primary focus for the development of rejuvenation therapies to address the contribution of senescent cells to the aging process is to destroy these harmful, errant cells, many research groups are more interested in modulating or suppressing the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP is a potent mix of inflammatory and other signals that disrupts tissue function and produces a sizable fraction of the chronic inflammation associated with aging, driving the progression of all of the common age-related conditions. In principle, eliminating the SASP should eliminate the contribution of senescent cells to the aging process; the challenge would be doing so without also eliminating the necessary short-term SASP involved in cancer suppression, wound healing, and other positive functions carried out by senescent cells on a temporary basis. Periodic destruction of lingering senescent cells doesn't have this hurdle to clear, as it won't interfere with the short-term presence of senescent cells that come and go as needed. Cellular senescence is an important protective process with roles in development, tissue homeostasis, and wound healing. However, senescence is also implicated in multiple diseases including cancer, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and a diminished healthspan during aging. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) is an important hallmark of senescence that contributes to normal physiology and disease. The SASP is characterise...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs