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Review
. 2023 May 2;12(9):1296.
doi: 10.3390/cells12091296.

Senescent Cells: A Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular Diseases

Masayoshi Suda  1   2 , Karl H Paul  1   3 , Tohru Minamino  2   4 , Jordan D Miller  5 , Amir Lerman  6 , Georgina M Ellison-Hughes  7   8 , Tamar Tchkonia  1 , James L Kirkland  1   9
Affiliations
Review

Senescent Cells: A Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular Diseases

Masayoshi Suda et al. Cells. .

Abstract

Senescent cell accumulation has been observed in age-associated diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Senescent cells lack proliferative capacity and secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors that may cause or worsen many cardiovascular diseases. Therapies targeting senescent cells, especially senolytic drugs that selectively induce senescent cell removal, have been shown to delay, prevent, alleviate, or treat multiple age-associated diseases in preclinical models. Some senolytic clinical trials have already been completed or are underway for a number of diseases and geriatric syndromes. Understanding how cellular senescence affects the various cell types in the cardiovascular system, such as endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, progenitor cells, and cardiomyocytes, is important to facilitate translation of senotherapeutics into clinical interventions. This review highlights: (1) the characteristics of senescent cells and their involvement in cardiovascular diseases, focusing on the aforementioned cardiovascular cell types, (2) evidence about senolytic drugs and other senotherapeutics, and (3) the future path and clinical potential of senotherapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: SASP; atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; cellular senescence; senolytics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Masayoshi Suda, Karl H. Paul, Tohru Minamino, Jordan D. Miller, Amir Lerman, and Georgina M. Ellison-Hughes have no disclosures. Tamara Tchkonia and James L. Kirkland have a financial interest related to this research, including patents and pending patents covering senolytic drugs and their uses which are held by Mayo Clinic. This research has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and was conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic conflict of interest policies.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consequences of senescent cell accumulation in cardiovascular diseases and the mechanisms behind disease development.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Targets of senolytics and senomorphics.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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