SENOLYTICS: EMERGING THERAPEUTICS TARGETING CELLULAR SENESCENCE AND AGE-RELATED DISEASES

Abstract

The condition in which cells are permanently stop dividing due to aging, damage of DNA is called cellular senescence(1,2). This process acts as a protective mechanism against malignancy (cancer) , aggregation of senescent cells leads to chronic inflammation and dysfunction  of tissue. Inflammatory factors called as senescence –associated secretory phenotype (SASP) was released by these cells ,which  causes aging and disease progression. Cellular senescence is related to several age related diseases which includes cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer . Some drugs are  emerged by targeting  cellular senescence for improving health span(3,4). These drugs are called senolytics that are act by eliminating the senescent cells, while senomorphics suppress the harmful effects of SASP without destroying the cells. Some studies have shown that removal of senescent cells can reduce inflammation and improve tissue  function(3,4). Overally, targeting cellular senescence has a potential for prevention and treatment of age relateddiseases(4).