Role of Altered Extracellular Signalling in Cellular Senescence

Abstract

Normal mammalian cells are equipped with an antitumor program called cellular senescence, which induces irreversible cell cycle arrest in response to potent and potentially oncogenic stresses. While serving to prevent tumorigenesis, senescent cells also exert undesirable effects within the cellular microenvironment through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP is characterized by elevated secretion of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles. SASP may play a beneficial role in certain contexts, such as wound repair, but is detrimental in terms of aging, and can also promote tumorigenesis. The goal of this article is to provide a brief overview of the SASP.