Senescent cells can drive age-related tissue dysfunction partially via a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) involving proinflammatory and profibrotic factors. Cellular senescence has been associated with a structural and functional decline during normal lung aging and age-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Asthma in the elderly (AIE) represents a major healthcare burden. AIE is associated with bronchial airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling, which involves increased cell proliferation and higher rates of fibrosis, and resistant to standard therapy. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells play a major role in asthma such as remodeling via modulation of inflammation and the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. Whether senescent ASM cells accumulate in AIE and contribute to airway structural or functional changes is unknown. Lung tissues from elderly persons with asthma showed greater airway fibrosis compared with age-matched elderly persons with nonasthma and young age controls. Lung tissue or isolated ASM cells from elderly persons with asthma showed increased expression of multiple senescent markers including phospho-p53, p21, telomere-associated foci (TAF), as well as multiple SASP components. Senescence and SASP components were also increased with aging per se. These data highlight the presence of cellular senescence in AIE that may contribute to airway remodeling.
Targeted clearance of
p21
‐ but not
p16
‐positive senescent cells prevents radiation‐induced osteoporosis and increased marrow adiposity
Abstract Cellular senescence, which is a major cause of tissue dysfunction with aging and multiple other conditions, is known to be triggered by p16 Ink4a or p21 Cip1 , but the relative contributions of each pathway toward inducing senescence are unclear. Here, we directly addressed this issue by first developing and validating a p21 ‐ ATTAC mouse with the p21 Cip1 promoter driving a “suicide” transgene encoding an inducible caspase‐8 which, upon induction, selectively kills p21 Cip1 ‐expressing senescent cells. Next, we used the p21 ‐ ATTAC mouse and the established p16 ‐ INK ‐ ATTAC mouse to directly compare the contributions of p21 Cip1 versus p16 Ink4a in driving cellular senescence in a condition where a tissue phenotype (bone loss and increased marrow adiposity) is clearly driven by cellular senescence—specifically, radiation‐induced osteoporosis. Using RNA in situ hybridization, we confirmed the reduction in radiation‐induced p21 Cip1 ‐ or p16 Ink4a ‐driven transcripts following senescent cell clearance in both models. However, only clearance of p21 Cip1 +, but not p16 Ink4a +, senescent cells prevented both radiation‐induced osteoporosis and increased marrow adiposity. Reduction in senescent cells with dysfunctional telomeres following clearance of p21 Cip1 +, but not p16 Ink4a +, senescent cells also reduced several of the radiation‐induced pro‐inflammatory senescence‐associated secretory phenotype factors. Thus, by directly comparing senescent cell clearance using two parallel genetic models, we demonstrate that radiation‐induced osteoporosis is driven predominantly by p21 Cip1 ‐ rather than p16 Ink4a ‐mediated cellular senescence. Further, this approach can be used to dissect the contributions of these pathways in other senescence‐associated conditions, including aging across tissues.
Sub-lethal apoptotic stress enables mtDNA release during senescence and drives the SASP
Abstract Senescent cells drive age-related tissue dysfunction partially via the induction of a chronic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Mitochondria are major regulators of the SASP; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Mitochondria also control apoptosis, a cell fate generally perceived as distinct from cellular senescence, which is apoptosis resistant. Here, we show that mitochondrial outer membrane permeability (MOMP) occurring in a small subset of mitochondria is a feature of cellular senescence. This process, called minority MOMP (miMOMP), depends on the formation of BAX and BAK macropores and results in release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the cytosol, which in turn activates the cGAS/STING pathway, a major regulator of the SASP. Importantly, we found that inhibition of MOMP in vivo decreases inflammatory markers and improves healthspan parameters in aged mice. Our results propose the novel concept that apoptosis and senescence are regulated by similar mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms, and that sub-lethal mitochondrial apoptotic stress is a major driver of the SASP. We also provide proof-of-concept that inhibition of miMOMP may be a new therapeutic avenue to improve healthspan.
Bone Marrow Adiposity in Models of Radiation- and Aging-Related Bone Loss Is Dependent on Cellular Senescence
Senescence is a multi‐functional cell fate, characterized by an irreversible cell‐cycle arrest and a pro‐inflammatory phenotype, commonly known as the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging evidence indicates that accumulation of senescent cells in multiple tissues drives tissue dysfunction and several age‐related conditions. This has spurred the academic community and industry to identify new therapeutic interventions targeting this process. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an often‐unappreciated hallmark of cellular senescence which plays important roles not only in the senescence growth arrest but also in the development of the SASP and resistance to cell‐death. Here, we review the evidence that supports a role for mitochondria in the development of senescence and describe the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we propose that a detailed road map of mitochondrial biology in senescence will be crucial to guide the future development of senotherapies.
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)
1
Hindered by a limited understanding of the mechanisms responsible for diabetic gastroenteropathy (DGE), management is symptomatic. We investigated the duodenal mucosal expression of protein-coding genes and microRNAs (miRNA) in DGE and related them to clinical features. The diabetic phenotype, gastric emptying, mRNA, and miRNA expression and ultrastructure of duodenal mucosal biopsies were compared in 39 DGE patients and 21 controls. Among 3175 differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05), several mitochondrial DNA–encoded (mtDNA-encoded) genes (12 of 13 protein coding genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation [OXPHOS], both rRNAs and 9 of 22 transfer RNAs) were downregulated; conversely, nuclear DNA–encoded (nDNA-encoded) mitochondrial genes (OXPHOS) were upregulated in DGE. The promoters of differentially expressed genes were enriched in motifs for transcription factors (e.g., NRF1), which regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. Seventeen of 30 differentially expressed miRNAs targeted differentially expressed mitochondrial genes. Mitochondrial density was reduced and correlated with expression of 9 mtDNA OXPHOS genes. Uncovered by principal component (PC) analysis of 70 OXPHOS genes, PC1 was associated with neuropathy ( P = 0.01) and delayed gastric emptying ( P < 0.05). In DGE, mtDNA- and nDNA-encoded mitochondrial genes are reduced and increased — associated with reduced mitochondrial density, neuropathy, and delayed gastric emptying — and correlated with cognate miRNAs. These findings suggest that mitochondrial disturbances may contribute to delayed gastric emptying in DGE.
Whole‐body senescent cell clearance alleviates age‐related brain inflammation and cognitive impairment in mice
Abstract Cellular senescence is characterized by an irreversible cell cycle arrest and a pro‐inflammatory senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which is a major contributor to aging and age‐related diseases. Clearance of senescent cells has been shown to improve brain function in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is still unknown whether senescent cell clearance alleviates cognitive dysfunction during the aging process. To investigate this, we first conducted single‐nuclei and single‐cell RNA‐seq in the hippocampus from young and aged mice. We observed an age‐dependent increase in p16 Ink4a senescent cells, which was more pronounced in microglia and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and characterized by a SASP. We then aged INK ‐ ATTAC mice, in which p16 Ink4a ‐positive senescent cells can be genetically eliminated upon treatment with the drug AP20187 and treated them either with AP20187 or with the senolytic cocktail Dasatinib and Quercetin. We observed that both strategies resulted in a decrease in p16 Ink4a exclusively in the microglial population, resulting in reduced microglial activation and reduced expression of SASP factors. Importantly, both approaches significantly improved cognitive function in aged mice. Our data provide proof‐of‐concept for senolytic interventions' being a potential therapeutic avenue for alleviating age‐associated cognitive impairment.
Moderate Exercise Inhibits Age-Related Inflammation, Liver Steatosis, Senescence, and Tumorigenesis
Abstract Age-related chronic inflammation promotes cellular senescence, chronic disease, cancer, and reduced lifespan. In this study, we wanted to explore the effects of a moderate exercise regimen on inflammatory liver disease and tumorigenesis. We used an established model of spontaneous inflammaging, steatosis, and cancer (nfkb1−/− mouse) to demonstrate whether 3 mo of moderate aerobic exercise was sufficient to suppress liver disease and cancer development. Interventional exercise when applied at a relatively late disease stage was effective at reducing tissue inflammation (liver, lung, and stomach), oxidative damage, and cellular senescence, and it reversed hepatic steatosis and prevented tumor development. Underlying these benefits were transcriptional changes in enzymes driving the conversion of tryptophan to NAD+, this leading to increased hepatic NAD+ and elevated activity of the NAD+-dependent deacetylase sirtuin. Increased SIRT activity was correlated with enhanced deacetylation of key transcriptional regulators of inflammation and metabolism, NF-κB (p65), and PGC-1α. We propose that moderate exercise can effectively reprogram pre-established inflammatory and metabolic pathologies in aging with the benefit of prevention of disease.
AbstractThe idea that senescent cells are causally involved in aging has gained strong support from findings that the removal of such cells alleviates many age‐related diseases and extends the life span of mice. While efforts proceed to make therapeutic use of such discoveries, it is important to ask what evolutionary forces might have been behind the emergence of cellular senescence, in order better to understand the biology that we might seek to alter. Cellular senescence is often regarded as an anti‐cancer mechanism, since it limits the division potential of cells. However, many studies have shown that senescent cells often also have carcinogenic properties. This is difficult to reconcile with the simple idea of an anti‐cancer mechanism. Furthermore, other studies have shown that cellular senescence is involved in wound healing and tissue repair. Here, we bring these findings and ideas together and discuss the possibility that these functions might be the main reason for the evolution of cellular senescence. Furthermore, we discuss the idea that senescent cells might accumulate with age because the immune system had to strike a balance between false negatives (overlooking some senescent cells) and false positives (destroying healthy body cells).