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Review
. 2019 Jan;52(1):47-55.
doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2019.52.1.293.

Senotherapeutics: emerging strategy for healthy aging and age-related disease

Eok-Cheon Kim  1 , Jae-Ryong Kim  1
Affiliations
Review

Senotherapeutics: emerging strategy for healthy aging and age-related disease

Eok-Cheon Kim et al. BMB Rep. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Cellular senescence (CS) is one of hallmarks of aging and accumulation of senescent cells (SCs) with age contributes to tissue or organismal aging, as well as the pathophysiologies of diverse age-related diseases (ARDs). Genetic ablation of SCs in tissues lengthened health span and reduced the risk of age-related pathologies in a mouse model, suggesting a direct link between SCs, longevity, and ARDs. Therefore, senotherapeutics, medicines targeting SCs, might be an emerging strategy for the extension of health span, and prevention or treatment of ARDs. Senotherapeutics are classified as senolytics which kills SCs selectively; senomorphics which modulate functions and morphology of SCs to those of young cells, or delays the progression of young cells to SCs in tissues; and immune-system mediators of the clearance of SCs. Some senolytics and senomorphics have been proven to markedly prevent or treat ARDs in animal models. This review will present the current status of the development of senotherapeutics, in relation to aging itself and ARDs. Finally, future directions and opportunities for senotherapeutics use will discussed. This knowledge will provide information that can be used to develop novel senotherapeutics for health span and ARDs. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(1): 47-55].

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicting interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Senotherapeutics targeting SCs. CS induced by diverse factors is involved in many biological processes, embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and tissue dysfunction, thus contributing to age-related pathologies and lifespan. Therefore, senotherapeutics targeting SCs is an emerging strategy of aging intervention for extension of health span and prevention and treatment of ARDs. Senotherapeutics is comprised of 3 classes: senolytics which kill SCs selectively; senomorphics which modulates or even reverses the phenotypes of SCs to those of young cells by interfering with triggers of CS, targeting SCs directly, or blocking SASP: and mediators of the immune-system clearance of SCs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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