Senescent cells are primarily killed by senolytics, which are compounds specifically designed to eliminate these cells.
Understanding Senescent Cells and Senolytics
Senescent cells are cells that have stopped dividing but haven't died. They accumulate with age and contribute to various age-related diseases and conditions by releasing harmful substances. Senolytics are a class of drugs that selectively induce the death of senescent cells, aiming to alleviate the negative effects they cause.
How Senolytics Work
Senolytics work by targeting pathways that senescent cells rely on for survival. These pathways often involve anti-apoptotic mechanisms (mechanisms that prevent cell death) that are upregulated in senescent cells. By inhibiting these survival pathways, senolytics trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) specifically in senescent cells, without significantly harming healthy cells.
Examples of Senolytics
The list of senolytic compounds is continuously expanding, but some well-known examples include:
- Dasatinib: A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, originally used in cancer treatment.
- Quercetin: A naturally occurring flavonoid found in many plants.
- Fisetin: Another flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables.
- Navitoclax (ABT-263): A BCL-2 inhibitor.
These compounds have shown promising results in preclinical studies and some clinical trials, demonstrating their ability to reduce the burden of senescent cells and improve healthspan in various models.
Considerations and Future Directions
While senolytics hold great promise, it's important to note that research is still ongoing. Factors such as optimal dosage, long-term effects, and specific applications are being actively investigated. Future research will likely focus on developing more targeted and effective senolytics, as well as identifying biomarkers to better monitor the effectiveness of senolytic therapies.
