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Cell Cycle
Eukaryotes
Cellular Senescence
Permanent cell cycle arrest in response to stress or telomere shortening.
Overview
Cellular senescence is an irreversible growth arrest triggered by telomere attrition (replicative senescence), oncogene activation (oncogene-induced senescence), DNA damage, or oxidative stress. Senescent cells remain metabolically active and secrete a complex mixture of cytokines, chemokines, and proteases known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The p53-p21 and p16-Rb pathways are key mediators.
Cellular Location
Nucleus and cytoplasm
Clinical Significance
Tumor suppressive but SASP promotes aging, chronic inflammation, and age-related diseases; senolytic drugs (dasatinib+quercetin, navitoclax) are in clinical trials.