Pathogenetic markers of cellular senescence

INTRODUCTION: Cellular senescence(definition) is a complex process occurring at all stages of the development and functioning of an organism. On the one hand, it is important as a mechanism protecting against cell damage, but on the other hand, it contributes to the development of age-related diseases and aging of an organism as a whole. AIM: To determine key markers of senescent cells to study pathogenetic mechanisms of aging and to search for new strategies of healthy longevity. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and eLibrary.ru databases until July 1, 2024 and included analysis of the original and review articles using the keywords: ‘senescent cells’, ‘cellular senescence’, ‘senescent cell markers’, ‘SA-β-Gal’, ‘SASP’. The best studied and widely used markers of senescent cells are cell cycle arrest factors: DNA damage response markers p53 and γH2AX, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16 and p21. Furthermore, SA-β-Gal is a universal marker of cellular senescence, identified in both tissues and cell models of aging. SASP factors are not direct markers of aging, but an important indicator of complex interactions between senescent cells and their microenvironment. CONCLUSION: Currently, a large number of senescent cells pathogenetic markers have been identified. Their expression can vary depending on the cell type and aging context, which is important to understand for the development of senolytic therapeutic approaches and the maintenance of healthy longevity.