Cellular senescence: Defining a path forward
Gorgoulis V, Adams PD, Alimonti A, Bennett DC, Bischof O, Bishop C, Campisi J, Collado M, Evangelou K, Ferbeyre G, Gil J, Hara E, Krizhanovsky V, Jurk D, Maier AB, Narita M, Niedernhofer L, Passos JF, Robbins PD, Schmitt CA, Sedivy J, Vougas K, von Zglinicki T, Zhou D, Serrano M, Demaria M. Cellular Senescence: Defining a Path Forward. Cell. 2019 Oct 31;179(4):813-827. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.005. PMID: 31675495.
This review examines methods to detect senescent cells since there is not one defining trait that is unique to senescenct cells. Senescenece can happen independently of the organisms’ age and have both advantageous and deleterious effects. They define cell cycle arrest, secretion, macromolecular damage, and deregulated molecular profile as characteristics of cellular senescence. They also examine ways to detect senescent cells in humans. While there are markers that can be used, no marker is a unique or defining enough to decide whether the cell is senescent. Even the SASP, while a common feature, is a varied one. The authors advise a multi-pronged approach to identifying senescence.