p53, Hsp90 β, and Cellular Senescence in Muscle Regeneration and Muscle Aging

Senescent cells are a mechanism of aging, but also a mechanism of regeneration. When entering a senescent state, a cell shuts down replication and begins to secrete a mix of inflammatory and other signals, rousing the immune system and altering the behavior of surrounding cells. In addition to the other ways in which cells become senescent, in response to the Hayflick limit on cellular replication, or to potentially cancerous DNA damage, senescent cells also arise in response to injury. Their secretions help to guide the complicated dance of immune cells, stem cells, and somatic cells that takes place during the consequent regeneration. Afterwards, the senescent cells self-destruct via apoptosis, or are destroyed by the immune system. Unfortunately, it is never the case that all senescent cells are destroyed. Those resulting from injury are a tiny fraction of the somatic cells that become senescent on reaching the Hayflick limit, but we can still hypothesize that cellular senescence is important in, say, the way in which joint injuries can become lasting disabilities, or bring on early arthritis. As lingering senescent cells accumulate in tissues, secreted signals that are beneficial in the short term become instead the cause of chronic inflammation and disruption of normal tissue function. Senescent cells are thus a cause of aging, and we will all benefit from therapies capable of removing those that linger in our bodies. Today's open access paper is an exampl...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs