Characterization of cellular senescence in aging skeletal muscle

2022  Journal Article

Characterization of cellular senescence in aging skeletal muscle

Pub TLDR

This research examines the role of cellular senescence in aging skeletal muscle. Using various methods, the study found that a subpopulation of cells in old mice and humans exhibit signs of senescence, which can be improved with a senotherapeutic intervention. This suggests that cellular senescence may be a key factor in skeletal muscle aging and could be targeted for potential treatments.

DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00250-8    PubMed ID: 36147777
 

College of Health researcher(s)

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Abstract

Senescence is a cell fate that contributes to multiple aging-related pathologies. Despite profound age-associated changes in skeletal muscle (SkM), whether its constituent cells are prone to senesce has not been methodically examined. Herein, using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing and complementary imaging methods on SkM of young and old mice, we demonstrate that a subpopulation of old fibroadipogenic progenitors highly expresses p16Ink4a together with multiple senescence-related genes and concomitantly, exhibits DNA damage and chromatin reorganization. Through analysis of isolated myofibers, we also detail a senescence phenotype within a subset of old cells, governed instead by p21Cip1. Administration of a senotherapeutic intervention to old mice countered age-related molecular and morphological changes and improved SkM strength. Finally, we found that the senescence phenotype is conserved in SkM from older humans. Collectively, our data provide compelling evidence for cellular senescence as a hallmark and potentially tractable mediator of SkM aging.

Zhang, X., Habiballa, L., Aversa, Z., Ng, Y.E., Sakamoto, A.E., Englund, D.A., Pearsall, V.M., White, T.A., Robinson, M.M., Rivas, D.A., Dasari, S., Hruby, A., Lagnado, A.B., Jachim, S.K., Granic, A., Sayer, A.A., Jurk, D., Lanza, I.R., Khosla, S., Fielding, R.A., Nair, K.S., Schafer, M.J., Passos, J.F., LeBrasseur, N.K. (2022) Characterization of cellular senescence in aging skeletal muscleNature Aging2