Abstract
Cellular senescence, the irreversible growth arrest of cells from conditional renewal populations combined with a radical shift in their phenotype, is a hallmark of ageing in some mammalian species. In the light of this, interest in the detection of senescent cells in different tissues and different species is increasing. However much of the prior work in this area is heavily slanted towards studies conducted in humans and rodents; and in these species most studies concern primary fibroblasts or cancer cell lines rendered senescent through exposure to a variety of stressors. Complex techniques are now available for the detailed analysis of senescence in these systems. But, rather than focussing on these methods this review instead examines techniques for the simple and reproducible detection of senescent cells. Intended primary for the non-specialist who wishes to quickly detect senescent cells in tissues or species which may lack a significant evidence base on the phenomenon it emphasises the power of the original techniques used to demonstrate the senescence of cells, their interrelationship with other markers and their potential to inform on the senescent state in new species and archival specimens.
Highlights
The irreversible growth arrest of cells from conditional renewal populations combined with a radical shift in their phenotype, is a hallmark of ageing in some mammalian species
Intended primary for the non-specialist who wishes to quickly detect senescent cells in tissues or species which may lack a significant evidence base on the phenomenon it emphasises the power of the original techniques used to demonstrate the senescence of cells, their interrelationship with other markers and their potential to inform on the senescent state in new species and archival specimens
The original tenets of this hypothesis were that a finite lifespan is an intrinsic property of normal human cells, that cell growth in vitro is somehow related to human ageing and that cultured primary fibroblasts were a useful model system in which to study some aspects of in vivo ageing
Summary
The initiation of the first true cultures of metazoan cells by Alexis Carrel (Carrel, 1913) is a landmark in the history of biology. The original tenets of this hypothesis were that a finite lifespan is an intrinsic property of normal human cells, that cell growth in vitro is somehow related to human ageing and that cultured primary fibroblasts were a useful model system in which to study some aspects of in vivo ageing. Hayflick termed this failure to grow “senescence” a term which, for good or ill, has stuck. Because it is possible to separate the altered phenotype from the cessation of growth in some contexts (e.g., the serial passage of adrenocortical cell strains) the failure of growth and the altered phenotype are considered separately below
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
