Potential Applicability of Senescent Cell Eliminating/Senolytic Strategies

Special Issue: Potential Applicability of Senescent Cell Eliminating/Senolytic Strategies

Senescent cells, defined as having a permanently cell cycle arrest, were first described more than 50 years in cell culture experiments. In the last decade, a plethora of studies have demonstrated that senescent cells contribute to an array of biological processes in vivo. Beneficial roles for these cells indicate that senescence directs aspects of embryogenesis, tissue repair, and immune cell directed surveillance. Detrimental impacts of senescent cells have been shown to drive aging and a variety of age-related diseases. As a result, they have received substantial attention from companies as a target for treating pathologies associated with increasing life. Senolytics, compounds directing senescent cell elimination, may offer hope for patients afflicted with these conditions. Our focus in this special issue is to highlight:

1. Advances in our understanding of how senescent cells are involved in aging and age-related diseases
2. Emerging pathways and biomarkers of senescence and challenges with detecting this rare cell population in vivo
3. Therapeutic opportunities to eliminate senescent cells to exploit for novel interventions
4. Ongoing challenges of incorporating these strategies for use in patients

Special Issue Guest Editor: Darren Baker, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Email: baker.darren@mayo.edu

Paper submission due: 31 March 2018