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Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease
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Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 49364

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Irena Manov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Interests: cellular senescence; senescent-associated secretory phenotype; inflammatory response, Adipose-derived stem cells; tumor microenvironment; cancer resistance; long-lived animals
Dr. Imad Shams

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Interests: hypoxia tolerance; longevity; cancer resistance; subterranean mammals; stress resistance; genome maintainance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation is an important evolutionary mechanism that is triggered by the innate immune network in response to disturbances in homeostasis. This mechanism is extremely conservative among mammals and is aimed at restoring integrity of tissue, organs, or whole body. Pathogens, infectious or non-infectious, damaged cells, radiation, etc. trigger inflammatory signaling pathways, most commonly involving NF-κB and causing the release of inflammatory mediators. In a young body, acute inflammation is a beneficial defensive reaction that ensures wound healing and restoration of tissue integrity and is therefore crucial to survival and reproductive success.

Aging is associated with the accumulation of senescent cells that stop dividing, and therefore, they prevent spreading mutations into daughter cells, but in parallel, these cells remain alive and exhibit increased secretion of inflammatory factors (senescent-associated secretory phenotype, SASP). The aging body gradually develops a microenvironment with “chronic low-grade inflammation”, also known as “inflammaging”, and this phenomenon persists both in tissues and organs and at the systemic level and is a hallmark for most aging-related diseases.

In this Special Issue of the journal, we will discuss the nature, crosstalk, and co-evolution of cellular aging and inflammatory response in health and disease and explore therapeutic strategies for suppressing chronic inflammation. In this regard, we will also address the role of the hyperinflammatory syndrome in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Prof. Dr. Irena Manov
Dr. Imad Shams
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Cellular senescence
  • Senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)
  • Inflammatory response
  • Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins
  • Cytokine storm
  • Aging
  • Inflammaging

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4194 KiB  
Article
Secretory Factors from Calcium-Sensing Receptor-Activated SW872 Pre-Adipocytes Induce Cellular Senescence and A Mitochondrial Fragmentation-Mediated Inflammatory Response in HepG2 Cells
by Lautaro Briones-Suarez, Mariana Cifuentes and Roberto Bravo-Sagua
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24065217 - 09 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1650
Abstract
Adipose tissue inflammation in obesity has a deleterious impact on organs such as the liver, ultimately leading to their dysfunction. We have previously shown that activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in pre-adipocytes induces TNF-α and IL-1β expression and secretion; however, it is [...] Read more.
Adipose tissue inflammation in obesity has a deleterious impact on organs such as the liver, ultimately leading to their dysfunction. We have previously shown that activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in pre-adipocytes induces TNF-α and IL-1β expression and secretion; however, it is unknown whether these factors promote hepatocyte alterations, particularly promoting cell senescence and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. We generated conditioned medium (CM) from the pre-adipocyte cell line SW872 treated with either vehicle (CMveh) or the CaSR activator cinacalcet 2 µM (CMcin), in the absence or presence of the CaSR inhibitor calhex 231 10 µM (CMcin+cal). HepG2 cells were cultured with these CM for 120 h and then assessed for cell senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction. CMcin-treated cells showed increased SA-β-GAL staining, which was absent in TNF-α- and IL-1β-depleted CM. Compared to CMveh, CMcin arrested cell cycle, increased IL-1β and CCL2 mRNA, and induced p16 and p53 senescence markers, which was prevented by CMcin+cal. Crucial proteins for mitochondrial function, PGC-1α and OPA1, were decreased with CMcin treatment, concomitant with fragmentation of the mitochondrial network and decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential. We conclude that pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by SW872 cells after CaSR activation promote cell senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction, which is mediated by mitochondrial fragmentation in HepG2 cells and whose effects were reversed with Mdivi-1. This investigation provides new evidence about the deleterious CaSR-induced communication between pre-adipocytes and liver cells, incorporating the mechanisms involved in cellular senescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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22 pages, 5485 KiB  
Article
Senescent Secretome of Blind Mole Rat Spalax Inhibits Malignant Behavior of Human Breast Cancer Cells Triggering Bystander Senescence and Targeting Inflammatory Response
by Amani Odeh, Hossam Eddini, Lujain Shawasha, Anastasia Chaban, Aaron Avivi, Imad Shams and Irena Manov
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5132; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24065132 - 07 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Subterranean blind mole rat, Spalax, has developed strategies to withstand cancer by maintaining genome stability and suppressing the inflammatory response. Spalax cells undergo senescence without the acquisition of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in its canonical form, namely, it lacks the main inflammatory [...] Read more.
Subterranean blind mole rat, Spalax, has developed strategies to withstand cancer by maintaining genome stability and suppressing the inflammatory response. Spalax cells undergo senescence without the acquisition of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in its canonical form, namely, it lacks the main inflammatory mediators. Since senescence can propagate through paracrine factors, we hypothesize that conditioned medium (CM) from senescent Spalax fibroblasts can transmit the senescent phenotype to cancer cells without inducing an inflammatory response, thereby suppressing malignant behavior. To address this issue, we investigated the effect of CMs of Spalax senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation, migration, and secretory profile in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The results suggest that Spalax CM induced senescence in cancer cells, as evidenced by increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, growth suppression and overexpression of senescence-related p53/p21 genes. Contemporaneously, Spalax CM suppressed the secretion of the main inflammatory factors in cancer cells and decreased their migration. In contrast, human CM, while causing a slight increase in SA-β-Gal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells, did not decrease proliferation, inflammatory response, and cancer cell migration. Dysregulation of IL-1α under the influence of Spalax CM, especially the decrease in the level of membrane-bound IL1-α, plays an important role in suppressing inflammatory secretion in cancer cells, which in turn leads to inhibition of cancer cell migration. Overcoming of SASP in tumor cells in response to paracrine factors of senescent microenvironment or anti-cancer drugs represents a promising senotherapeutic strategy in cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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15 pages, 3820 KiB  
Article
Circ_0011129 Encapsulated by the Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human Stem Cells Ameliorate Skin Photoaging
by Yu Zhang, Manqi Zhang, Amin Yao, Yalin Xie, Jingxiong Lin, Farooqi Sharifullah, Yixin Hong, Hongbo Chen, Fang Cheng and Wei Lai
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 15390; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232315390 - 06 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
Photoaging is not only the main cause of skin aging caused by exogenous factors, it is also related to a variety of skin diseases and even malignant tumors. Excessive and repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially UVA induces oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, [...] Read more.
Photoaging is not only the main cause of skin aging caused by exogenous factors, it is also related to a variety of skin diseases and even malignant tumors. Excessive and repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially UVA induces oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and collagen and elastin degeneration, ultimately leads to skin photoaging, manifested by skin redness, coarse wrinkles, and pigmentation even skin cancer. There has been a large demand of effective prevention and medications but approaches in the current management of photoaging are very limited. In the previous study, we found that a non-coding circular RNA circ_0011129 acts as a miR-6732-5p adsorption sponge to inhibit the reduction of type I collagen and the denaturation and accumulation of elastin in UVA-induced HDF cells photoaging model. However, in vivo instability and efficient delivery to the target cell of circRNA is a major challenge for its clinical application. Therefore, improving its stability and delivery efficiency are desired. In this study, we proposed a strategy of delivering circ_0011129 with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) to intervene in the photoaging process. The results showed that sEVs from hADSCs in 3D bioreactor culture (3D-sEVs) can prevent photoaging. Consequently, by overexpressing circ_0011129 in hADSCs, we successfully loaded it into 3D-sEVs (3D-circ-sEVs) and its protective effect was better. Our studies provide a novel approach to preventing skin photoaging, which has important clinical significance and application value for the development of non-coding RNA drugs to treat skin photoaging. We first screened out hADSCs-derived sEVs with excellent anti-oxidant effects. We then compared the sEVs collected from traditional 2D culture with 3D bioreactor culture. By miRNA-seq and GEO data analysis, we found that miRNAs in 3D-sEVs were enriched in cell activities related to apoptosis, cellular senescence, and inflammation. Subsequently, we prepared circ_0011129-loaded 3D-sEVs (3D-circ-sEVs) by overexpressing it in hADSCs for the treatment of photoaging in vitro. We proved that 3D-circ-sEVs can interfere with the process of cell photoaging and protect cells from UVA radiation damage, as well as in a H2O2-induced oxidative stress model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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12 pages, 9506 KiB  
Article
Th17 Activation and Th17/Treg Imbalance in Prolonged Anterior Intraocular Inflammation after Ocular Alkali Burn
by Miner Yuan, Xiaobing Qian, Yanqiao Huang, Xinqi Ma, Fang Duan, Yao Yang, Bingsheng Lou and Xiaofeng Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7075; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23137075 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
Ocular alkali burn (OAB) is a sight-threatening disease with refractory ocular inflammation causing various blinding complications. Th17 lymphocytes account for the pathogeneses of the autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation, but their role in prolonged anterior intraocular inflammation after OAB is still unknown. A [...] Read more.
Ocular alkali burn (OAB) is a sight-threatening disease with refractory ocular inflammation causing various blinding complications. Th17 lymphocytes account for the pathogeneses of the autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation, but their role in prolonged anterior intraocular inflammation after OAB is still unknown. A rat OAB model was established for this purpose. Anterior intraocular inflammation was observed in both the acute and late phases of OAB, and histological examination confirmed the presence of inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrin exudation in the anterior segment. Luminex xMAP technology and qPCR were used to evaluate the intraocular levels of cytokines. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly elevated during the acute phase. The expression of IL-17A gradually increased from day 7 onwards and remained at a relatively high level. Immunofluorescence was performed to identify Th17 cells. CD4 and IL-17A double positive cells were detected in the anterior chamber from days 7 to 28. Flow cytometry showed that the frequency of Th17 cells increased in both lymph nodes and spleen, while the frequency of Treg cells remained unchanged, resulting in an elevated Th17/Treg ratio. The present study suggests that Th17 activation and Th17/Treg imbalance account for prolonged anterior intraocular inflammation after OAB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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22 pages, 3798 KiB  
Article
Perinatal Obesity Induces Hepatic Growth Restriction with Increased DNA Damage Response, Senescence, and Dysregulated Igf-1-Akt-Foxo1 Signaling in Male Offspring of Obese Mice
by Philipp Kasper, Jaco Selle, Christina Vohlen, Rebecca Wilke, Celien Kuiper-Makris, Oleksiy Klymenko, Inga Bae-Gartz, Charlotte Schömig, Alexander Quaas, Björn Schumacher, Münevver Demir, Martin Bürger, Sonja Lang, Anna Martin, Hans-Michael Steffen, Tobias Goeser, Jörg Dötsch and Miguel A. Alejandre Alcazar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5609; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23105609 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2229
Abstract
Maternal obesity predisposes for hepato-metabolic disorders early in life. However, the underlying mechanisms causing early onset dysfunction of the liver and metabolism remain elusive. Since obesity is associated with subacute chronic inflammation and accelerated aging, we test the hypothesis whether maternal obesity induces [...] Read more.
Maternal obesity predisposes for hepato-metabolic disorders early in life. However, the underlying mechanisms causing early onset dysfunction of the liver and metabolism remain elusive. Since obesity is associated with subacute chronic inflammation and accelerated aging, we test the hypothesis whether maternal obesity induces aging processes in the developing liver and determines thereby hepatic growth. To this end, maternal obesity was induced with high-fat diet (HFD) in C57BL/6N mice and male offspring were studied at the end of the lactation [postnatal day 21 (P21)]. Maternal obesity induced an obese body composition with metabolic inflammation and a marked hepatic growth restriction in the male offspring at P21. Proteomic and molecular analyses revealed three interrelated mechanisms that might account for the impaired hepatic growth pattern, indicating prematurely induced aging processes: (1) Increased DNA damage response (γH2AX), (2) significant upregulation of hepatocellular senescence markers (Cdnk1a, Cdkn2a); and (3) inhibition of hepatic insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1-AKT-p38-FoxO1 signaling with an insufficient proliferative growth response. In conclusion, our murine data demonstrate that perinatal obesity induces an obese body composition in male offspring with hepatic growth restriction through a possible premature hepatic aging that is indicated by a pathologic sequence of inflammation, DNA damage, senescence, and signs of a possibly insufficient regenerative capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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13 pages, 3039 KiB  
Article
Dual Inhibition of H3K9me2 and H3K27me3 Promotes Tumor Cell Senescence without Triggering the Secretion of SASP
by Na Zhang, Mengjie Shang, Hongxin Li, Lan Wu, Meichen Dong, Baiqu Huang, Jun Lu and Yu Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23073911 - 01 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2397
Abstract
Chemotherapy remains the most common cancer treatment. Although chemotherapeutic drugs induce tumor cell senescence, they are often associated with post-therapy tumor recurrence by inducing the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Therefore, it is important to identify effective strategies to induce tumor cell senescence without [...] Read more.
Chemotherapy remains the most common cancer treatment. Although chemotherapeutic drugs induce tumor cell senescence, they are often associated with post-therapy tumor recurrence by inducing the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Therefore, it is important to identify effective strategies to induce tumor cell senescence without triggering SASP. In this study, we used the small molecule inhibitors, UNC0642 (G9a inhibitor) and UNC1999 (EZH2 inhibitor) alone or in combination, to inhibit H3K9 and H3K27 methylation in different cancer cells. Dual inhibition of H3K9me2 and H3K27me3 in highly metastatic tumor cells had a stronger pro-senescence effect than either inhibitor alone and did not trigger SASP in tumor cells. Dual inhibition of H3K9me2 and H3K27me3 suppressed the formation of cytosolic chromatin fragments, which inhibited the cGAS-STING-SASP pathway. Collectively, these data suggested that dual inhibition of H3K9 and H3K27 methylation induced senescence of highly metastatic tumor cells without triggering SASP by inhibiting the cGAS-STING-SASP pathway, providing a new mechanism for the epigenetics-based therapy targeting H3K9 and H3K27 methylation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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11 pages, 5706 KiB  
Article
Transient Activation of Hedgehog Signaling Inhibits Cellular Senescence and Inflammation in Radiated Swine Salivary Glands through Preserving Resident Macrophages
by Liang Hu, Conglin Du, Zi Yang, Yang Yang, Zhao Zhu, Zhaochen Shan, Chunmei Zhang, Songlin Wang and Fei Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(24), 13493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222413493 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2329
Abstract
Salivary gland function is commonly and irreversibly damaged by radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This damage greatly decreases the patient’s quality of life and is difficult to remedy. Previously, we found that the transient activation of Hedgehog signaling alleviated salivary hypofunction [...] Read more.
Salivary gland function is commonly and irreversibly damaged by radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This damage greatly decreases the patient’s quality of life and is difficult to remedy. Previously, we found that the transient activation of Hedgehog signaling alleviated salivary hypofunction after radiation in both mouse and pig models through the inhibition of radiation-induced cellular senescence that is mediated by resident macrophages in mouse submandibular glands. Here we report that in swine parotid glands sharing many features with humans, the Hedgehog receptor PTCH1 is mainly expressed in macrophages, and levels of PTCH1 and multiple macrophage markers are significantly decreased by radiation but recovered by transient Hedgehog activation. These parotid macrophages mainly express the M2 macrophage marker ARG1, while radiation promotes expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine that is reversed by transient Hedgehog activation. Hedgehog activation likely preserves parotid macrophages after radiation through inhibition of P53 signaling and consequent cellular senescence. Consistently, VEGF, an essential anti-senescence cytokine downstream of Hedgehog signaling, is significantly decreased by radiation but recovered by transient Hedgehog activation. These findings indicate that in the clinically-relevant swine model, transient Hedgehog activation restores the function of irradiated salivary glands through the recovery of resident macrophages and the consequent inhibition of cellular senescence and inflammation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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17 pages, 2660 KiB  
Article
Low Intensity Shockwave Treatment Modulates Macrophage Functions Beneficial to Healing Chronic Wounds
by Jason S. Holsapple, Ben Cooper, Susan H. Berry, Aleksandra Staniszewska, Bruce M. Dickson, Julie A. Taylor, Paul Bachoo and Heather M. Wilson
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 7844; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22157844 - 22 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3871
Abstract
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is used clinically in various disorders including chronic wounds for its pro-angiogenic, proliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms driving therapeutic effects are not well characterized. Macrophages play a key role in all aspects [...] Read more.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is used clinically in various disorders including chronic wounds for its pro-angiogenic, proliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms driving therapeutic effects are not well characterized. Macrophages play a key role in all aspects of healing and their dysfunction results in failure to resolve chronic wounds. We investigated the role of ESWT on macrophage activity in chronic wound punch biopsies from patients with non-healing venous ulcers prior to, and two weeks post-ESWT, and in macrophage cultures treated with clinical shockwave intensities (150–500 impulses, 5 Hz, 0.1 mJ/mm2). Using wound area measurements and histological/immunohistochemical analysis of wound biopsies, we show ESWT enhanced healing of chronic ulcers associated with improved wound angiogenesis (CD31 staining), significantly decreased CD68-positive macrophages per biopsy area and generally increased macrophage activation. Shockwave treatment of macrophages in culture significantly boosted uptake of apoptotic cells, healing-associated cytokine and growth factor gene expressions and modulated macrophage morphology suggestive of macrophage activation, all of which contribute to wound resolution. Macrophage ERK activity was enhanced, suggesting one mechanotransduction pathway driving events. Collectively, these in vitro and in vivo findings reveal shockwaves as important regulators of macrophage functions linked with wound healing. This immunomodulation represents an underappreciated role of clinically applied shockwaves, which could be exploited for other macrophage-mediated disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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25 pages, 3848 KiB  
Article
Metformin Protects against Radiation-Induced Acute Effects by Limiting Senescence of Bronchial-Epithelial Cells
by Christine Hansel, Samantha Barr, Alina V. Schemann, Kirsten Lauber, Julia Hess, Kristian Unger, Horst Zitzelsberger, Verena Jendrossek and Diana Klein
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 7064; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22137064 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3362
Abstract
Radiation-induced damage to normal lung parenchyma remains a dose-limiting factor in thorax-associated radiotherapy (RT). Severe early and late complications with lungs can increase the risk of morbidity in cancer patients after RT. Herein, senescence of lung epithelial cells following RT-induced cellular stress, or [...] Read more.
Radiation-induced damage to normal lung parenchyma remains a dose-limiting factor in thorax-associated radiotherapy (RT). Severe early and late complications with lungs can increase the risk of morbidity in cancer patients after RT. Herein, senescence of lung epithelial cells following RT-induced cellular stress, or more precisely the respective altered secretory profile, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), was suggested as a central process for the initiation and progression of pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis. We previously reported that abrogation of certain aspects of the secretome of senescent lung cells, in particular, signaling inhibition of the SASP-factor Ccl2/Mcp1 mediated radioprotection especially by limiting endothelial dysfunction. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of a combined metformin treatment to protect normal lung tissue from RT-induced senescence and associated lung injury using a preclinical mouse model of radiation-induced pneumopathy. Metformin treatment efficiently limited RT-induced senescence and SASP expression levels, thereby limiting vascular dysfunctions, namely increased vascular permeability associated with increased extravasation of circulating immune and tumor cells early after irradiation (acute effects). Complementary in vitro studies using normal lung epithelial cell lines confirmed the senescence-limiting effect of metformin following RT finally resulting in radioprotection, while fostering RT-induced cellular stress of cultured malignant epithelial cells accounting for radiosensitization. The radioprotective action of metformin for normal lung tissue without simultaneous protection or preferable radiosensitization of tumor tissue might increase tumor control probabilities and survival because higher radiation doses could be used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 1398 KiB  
Review
Aging of Liver in Its Different Diseases
by Tijana Radonjić, Marija Dukić, Igor Jovanović, Marija Zdravković, Olga Mandić, Višeslav Popadić, Maja Popović, Novica Nikolić, Slobodan Klašnja, Anica Divac, Zoran Todorović and Marija Branković
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 13085; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232113085 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2690
Abstract
The proportion of elderly people in the world population is constantly increasing. With age, the risk of numerous chronic diseases and their complications also rises. Research on the subject of cellular senescence date back to the middle of the last century, and today [...] Read more.
The proportion of elderly people in the world population is constantly increasing. With age, the risk of numerous chronic diseases and their complications also rises. Research on the subject of cellular senescence date back to the middle of the last century, and today we know that senescent cells have different morphology, metabolism, phenotypes and many other characteristics. Their main feature is the development of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), whose pro-inflammatory components affect tissues and organs, and increases the possibility of age-related diseases. The liver is the main metabolic organ of our body, and the results of previous research indicate that its regenerative capacity is greater and that it ages more slowly compared to other organs. With age, liver cells change under the influence of various stressors and the risk of developing chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases. It has been proven that these diseases progress faster in the elderly population and in some cases lead to end-stage liver disease that requires transplantation. The treatment of elderly people with chronic liver diseases is a challenge and requires an individual approach as well as new research that will reveal other safe and effective therapeutic modalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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32 pages, 1359 KiB  
Review
Cellular Senescence in Immunity against Infections
by Veronica Marrella, Amanda Facoetti and Barbara Cassani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11845; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms231911845 - 06 Oct 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3013
Abstract
Cellular senescence is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest in response to different triggers and an inflammatory secretome. Although originally described in fibroblasts and cell types of solid organs, cellular senescence affects most tissues with advancing age, including the lymphoid tissue, causing chronic [...] Read more.
Cellular senescence is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest in response to different triggers and an inflammatory secretome. Although originally described in fibroblasts and cell types of solid organs, cellular senescence affects most tissues with advancing age, including the lymphoid tissue, causing chronic inflammation and dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune functions. Besides its normal occurrence, persistent microbial challenge or pathogenic microorganisms might also accelerate the activation of cellular aging, inducing the premature senescence of immune cells. Therapeutic strategies counteracting the detrimental effects of cellular senescence are being developed. Their application to target immune cells might have the potential to improve immune dysfunctions during aging and reduce the age-dependent susceptibility to infections. In this review, we discuss how immune senescence influences the host’s ability to resolve more common infections in the elderly and detail the different markers proposed to identify such senescent cells; the mechanisms by which infectious agents increase the extent of immune senescence are also reviewed. Finally, available senescence therapeutics are discussed in the context of their effects on immunity and against infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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15 pages, 1581 KiB  
Review
The Potential Role of Cellular Senescence in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
by Cornelius Engelmann and Frank Tacke
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(2), 652; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23020652 - 07 Jan 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6579
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents an increasing global health burden. Cellular senescence develops in response to cellular injury, leading not only to cell cycle arrest but also to alterations of the cellular phenotype and metabolic functions. In this review, we critically discuss [...] Read more.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents an increasing global health burden. Cellular senescence develops in response to cellular injury, leading not only to cell cycle arrest but also to alterations of the cellular phenotype and metabolic functions. In this review, we critically discuss the currently existing evidence for the involvement of cellular senescence in NAFLD in order to identify areas requiring further exploration. Hepatocyte senescence can be a central pathomechanism as it may foster intracellular fat accumulation, fibrosis and inflammation, also due to secretion of senescence-associated inflammatory mediators. However, in some non-parenchymal liver cell types, such as hepatic stellate cells, senescence may be beneficial by reducing the extracellular matrix deposition and thereby reducing fibrosis. Deciphering the detailed interaction between NAFLD and cellular senescence will be essential to discover novel therapeutic targets halting disease progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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24 pages, 1915 KiB  
Review
Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Senescence in Atherosclerosis: Thioredoxine-1 as an Emerging Therapeutic Target
by Khadija El Hadri, Rémy Smith, Eric Duplus and Chahrazade El Amri
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 77; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23010077 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4913
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) worldwide and intimately linked to aging. This pathology is characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, gradual accumulation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) particles and fibrous elements in focal areas of large and medium arteries. These [...] Read more.
Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) worldwide and intimately linked to aging. This pathology is characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, gradual accumulation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) particles and fibrous elements in focal areas of large and medium arteries. These fibrofatty lesions in the artery wall become progressively unstable and thrombogenic leading to heart attack, stroke or other severe heart ischemic syndromes. Elevated blood levels of LDL are major triggering events for atherosclerosis. A cascade of molecular and cellular events results in the atherosclerotic plaque formation, evolution, and rupture. Moreover, the senescence of multiple cell types present in the vasculature were reported to contribute to atherosclerotic plaque progression and destabilization. Classical therapeutic interventions consist of lipid-lowering drugs, anti-inflammatory and life style dispositions. Moreover, targeting oxidative stress by developing innovative antioxidant agents or boosting antioxidant systems is also a well-established strategy. Accumulation of senescent cells (SC) is also another important feature of atherosclerosis and was detected in various models. Hence, targeting SCs appears as an emerging therapeutic option, since senolytic agents favorably disturb atherosclerotic plaques. In this review, we propose a survey of the impact of inflammation, oxidative stress, and senescence in atherosclerosis; and the emerging therapeutic options, including thioredoxin-based approaches such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic strategy with promising potential of senomodulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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17 pages, 3620 KiB  
Review
How Immunosenescence and Inflammaging May Contribute to Hyperinflammatory Syndrome in COVID-19
by Ludmila Müller and Svetlana Di Benedetto
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12539; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222212539 - 21 Nov 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3877
Abstract
Aging is characterized by the dynamic remodeling of the immune system designated “immunosenescence,” and is associated with altered hematopoiesis, thymic involution, and lifelong immune stimulation by multitudinous chronic stressors, including the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Such alterations may contribute to a lowered proportion of naïve [...] Read more.
Aging is characterized by the dynamic remodeling of the immune system designated “immunosenescence,” and is associated with altered hematopoiesis, thymic involution, and lifelong immune stimulation by multitudinous chronic stressors, including the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Such alterations may contribute to a lowered proportion of naïve T-cells and to reduced diversity of the T-cell repertoire. In the peripheral circulation, a shift occurs towards accumulations of T and B-cell populations with memory phenotypes, and to accumulation of putatively senescent and exhausted immune cells. The aging-related accumulations of functionally exhausted memory T lymphocytes, commonly secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines, together with mediators and factors of the innate immune system, are considered to contribute to the low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) often observed in elderly people. These senescent immune cells not only secrete inflammatory mediators, but are also able to negatively modulate their environments. In this review, we give a short summary of the ways that immunosenescence, inflammaging, and CMV infection may cause insufficient immune responses, contribute to the establishment of the hyperinflammatory syndrome and impact the severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in elderly people. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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25 pages, 2194 KiB  
Review
Angptl2 is a Marker of Cellular Senescence: The Physiological and Pathophysiological Impact of Angptl2-Related Senescence
by Nathalie Thorin-Trescases, Pauline Labbé, Pauline Mury, Mélanie Lambert and Eric Thorin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12232; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222212232 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3225
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a cell fate primarily induced by DNA damage, characterized by irreversible growth arrest in an attempt to stop the damage. Senescence is a cellular response to a stressor and is observed with aging, but also during wound healing and in [...] Read more.
Cellular senescence is a cell fate primarily induced by DNA damage, characterized by irreversible growth arrest in an attempt to stop the damage. Senescence is a cellular response to a stressor and is observed with aging, but also during wound healing and in embryogenic developmental processes. Senescent cells are metabolically active and secrete a multitude of molecules gathered in the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP includes inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and metalloproteinases, with autocrine and paracrine activities. Among hundreds of molecules, angiopoietin-like 2 (angptl2) is an interesting, although understudied, SASP member identified in various types of senescent cells. Angptl2 is a circulatory protein, and plasma angptl2 levels increase with age and with various chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart failure and a multitude of age-related diseases. In this review, we will examine in which context angptl2 was identified as a SASP factor, describe the experimental evidence showing that angptl2 is a marker of senescence in vitro and in vivo, and discuss the impact of angptl2-related senescence in both physiological and pathological conditions. Future work is needed to demonstrate whether the senescence marker angptl2 is a potential clinical biomarker of age-related diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Senescence and the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease)
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