Similarities and interplay between senescent cells and macrophages
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Behmoaras, Jacques
Gil, Jesus
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Senescence is a cellular program that prevents the replication of old, damaged, or cancerous cells. Senescent cells become growth arrested and undergo changes in their morphology, chromatin organization, and metabolism, and produce a bioactive secretome. This secretome, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), mediates many of the pathophysiological effects associated with senescent cells, for example, recruiting and activating immune cells such as macrophages. The relation between senescent cells and macrophages is intriguing: senescent cells recruit macrophages, can induce them to undergo senescence, or can influence their polarization. Senescent cells and macrophages share multiple phenotypic characteristics; both have a high secretory status, increased lysosome numbers, or the ability to activate the inflammasome. Senescent cells accumulate during aging and disease, and killing them results in widespread benefits. Here we discuss similarities between senescent cells and macrophages and interpret the latest developments in macrophage biology to understand the molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence. We describe evidence and effects of senescence in macrophages and speculate on the ontogeny of the senescent-like state in macrophages. Finally, we examine the macrophage–senescent cell interplay and its impact on macrophage effector functions during inflammatory conditions and in the tumor microenvironment.
Date Issued
2021-02-01
Date Acceptance
2020-12-01
Citation
The Journal of Cell Biology, 2021, 220 (2)
ISSN
0021-9525
Publisher
Rockefeller University Press
Journal / Book Title
The Journal of Cell Biology
Volume
220
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Behmoaras and Gil. This article is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International, as described at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License URL
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
MR/N01121X/1
MR/V027638/1
Subjects
Developmental Biology
06 Biological Sciences
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e202010162
Date Publish Online
2020-12-23