Senescent cells serve a useful function in younger life when they emerge transiently in response to injury and forms of cell stress and damage. Such cells are rapidly cleared by programmed cell death or by the immune system. Unfortunately the aging of the immune system and rising levels of cell and tissue damage ensures that senescent cells accumulate with age to disrupt tissue structure and function with their inflammatory secretions. Based on animal study evidence, this appears to be an important contribution to degenerative aging. In mice, clearing sen…
A Short Review of Senescent Cells and Senotherapeutic Strategies
Senescent cells serve a useful function in younger life when they emerge transiently in response to injury and forms of cell stress and damage. Such cells are rapidly cleared by programmed cell death or by the immune system. Unfortunately the aging of the immune system and rising levels of cell and tissue damage ensures that senescent cells accumulate with age to disrupt tissue structure and function with their inflammatory secretions. Based on animal study evidence, this appears to be an important contribution to degenerative aging. In mice, clearing sen…