Project description:Cellular senescence is a stable proliferation arrest associated with an altered secretory pathway, the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). However, cellular senescence is initiated by diverse molecular triggers, such as activated oncogenes and shortened telomeres, and is associated with varied and complex physiological endpoints, such as tumor suppression and tissue aging. The extent to which distinct triggers activate divergent modes of senescence that might be associated with different physiological endpoints is largely unknown. To begin to address this, we performed gene expression profiling to compare the senescence programs associated with two different modes of senescence, oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) and replicative senescence (RS [in part caused by shortened telomeres]). While both OIS and RS are associated with many common changes in gene expression compared to control proliferating cells, they also exhibit substantial differences. These results are discussed in light of potential physiological consequences, tumor suppression and aging. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression after oncogene induced senescence.
Project description:Cellular senescence, an irreversible proliferative arrest, functions in tissue remodeling during development and is implicated in multiple aging-associated diseases. While senescent cells often manifest an array of senescence-associated phenotypes, such as cell cycle arrest, altered heterochromatin architecture, reprogrammed metabolism and senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP), the identification of senescence cells has been hindered by lack of specific and universal biomarkers. To systematically identify universal biomarkers of cellular senescence, we integrated multiple transcriptome data sets of senescent cells obtained through different in vitro manipulation modes as well as age-related gene expression data of human tissues. Our analysis showed that RRAD (Ras-related associated with diabetes) expression is up-regulated in all the manipulation modes and increases with age in human skin and adipose tissues.
Project description:Senescence is a cellular phenotype present in health and disease, characterized by an irreversible cell cycle arrest and an inflammatory response, denominated senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP is important in influencing the behaviour of neighbouring cells and altering the microenvironment; yet, this role has been mainly attributed to soluble factors. Here, we show that both the soluble factors and extracellular vesicles (EV) (comprised of exosomes and small extracellular vesicles) are capable of transmitting paracrine senescence to nearby cells. Analysis of the individual cells internalizing sEV, using a Cre-reporter system, suggest a positive correlation between sEV uptake from senescent cells and paracrine senescence. Interestingly, we find exosome biogenesis increased during senescence in vivo. sEV protein characterization by Mass Spectrometry (MS) followed by a functional siRNA screen identify the Interferon Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (IFITM3) as partially responsible for transmitting senescence to normal cells. Altogether, we found that sEV are part of the SASP and contribute to paracrine senescence
Project description:Cellular senescence is a stable proliferation arrest in response to stress, associated with an altered secretory pathway (Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP)). Senescence-associated proliferation arrest and the SASP are thought to act in concert to promote tumor suppression and tissue aging. While chromatin regulation and down regulation of lamin B1 have been implicated as effectors of cell senescence, functional interactions between them are poorly understood. We compared the genome-wide distributions of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 between proliferating and senescent primary human cells and found dramatic differences, including large-scale domains of H3K4me3- and H3K27me3-enriched “mesas” and H3K27me3-depleted “canyons” in senescent cells. Senescent mesas form at the sites of lamin B1-associated domains (LADs) in proliferating cells. Mesas also overlap with regions that exhibit DNA hypomethylation in cancer, suggesting that chromatin changes in pre-malignant senescent cells foreshadow epigenetic changes in cancer. Proliferating fibroblasts from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome patients expressing mutant lamin A (progerin) also show evidence of H3K4me3 mesas, suggesting a link between premature chromatin changes and accelerated cell senescence and tissue aging. In contrast, canyons form mostly in between LADs and are enriched in genes, gene promoters and enhancers. Strikingly, H3K27me3 loss in canyons is correlated with upregulation of key senescence genes, including genes comprising the SASP, indicating a link between global changes in chromatin structure and local regulation of gene expression. Finally, premature reduction of lamin B1 in midlife proliferating cells triggers formation of senescence-associated mesas and canyons and accelerated senescence. Together, our data illustrate a profound reorganization of chromatin during senescence, and suggest that down regulation of lamin B1 in senescence is a key trigger of global and local chromatin changes that impact gene expression, aging and cancer.
Project description:Cellular senescence is a stable proliferation arrest in response to stress, associated with an altered secretory pathway (Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP)). Senescence-associated proliferation arrest and the SASP are thought to act in concert to promote tumor suppression and tissue aging. While chromatin regulation and down regulation of lamin B1 have been implicated as effectors of cell senescence, functional interactions between them are poorly understood. We compared the genome-wide distributions of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 between proliferating and senescent primary human cells and found dramatic differences, including large-scale domains of H3K4me3- and H3K27me3-enriched "mesas" and H3K27me3-depleted "canyons" in senescent cells. Senescent mesas form at the sites of lamin B1-associated domains (LADs) in proliferating cells. Mesas also overlap with regions that exhibit DNA hypomethylation in cancer, suggesting that chromatin changes in pre-malignant senescent cells foreshadow epigenetic changes in cancer. Proliferating fibroblasts from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome patients expressing mutant lamin A (progerin) also show evidence of H3K4me3 mesas, suggesting a link between premature chromatin changes and accelerated cell senescence and tissue aging. In contrast, canyons form mostly in between LADs and are enriched in genes, gene promoters and enhancers. Strikingly, H3K27me3 loss in canyons is correlated with upregulation of key senescence genes, including genes comprising the SASP, indicating a link between global changes in chromatin structure and local regulation of gene expression. Finally, premature reduction of lamin B1 in midlife proliferating cells triggers formation of senescence-associated mesas and canyons and accelerated senescence. Together, our data illustrate a profound reorganization of chromatin during senescence, and suggest that down regulation of lamin B1 in senescence is a key trigger of global and local chromatin changes that impact gene expression, aging and cancer.
Project description:Cellular senescence is a stress or damage response that causes a permanent proliferative arrest and secretion of numerous factors with potent biological activities. This senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) has been characterized largely for secreted proteins that participate in embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation and many age-related pathologies. By contrast, lipid components of the SASP are understudied. We show that senescent cells activate the biosynthesis of several oxylipins that promote segments of the SASP and reinforce the proliferative arrest. Notably, senescent cells synthesize and accumulate an unstudied intracellular prostaglandin, 1a,1b-dihomo-15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2. Released 15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 is a biomarker of senolysis in culture and in vivo. This and other prostaglandin D2-related lipids promote the senescence arrest and SASP by activating RAS signaling. These data identify an important aspect of cellular senescence and a method to detect senolysis
Project description:Cellular senescence is a homeostatic program associated with tumor suppression, wound healing, and certain age related pathologies. Senescent cells display a repressive chromatin configuration thought to stably silence proliferation-promoting genes, while at the same time activate an unusual form of immune surveillance involving a secretory program referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Here we demonstrate that senescence also involves a global remodeling of the enhancer landscape with recruitment of the chromatin reader BRD4 to newly activated super-enhancers adjacent to key SASP genes. Transcriptional profiling and functional studies indicate that BRD4 is required for the SASP and downstream paracrine signaling. Consequently, BRD4 inhibition disrupts immune cell-mediated targeting and elimination of premalignant senescent cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results identify a critical role for BRD4-bound super-enhancers in senescence immune surveillance and in the proper execution of a tumor-suppressive program.
Project description:Cellular senescence is a homeostatic program associated with tumor suppression, wound healing, and certain age related pathologies. Senescent cells display a repressive chromatin configuration thought to stably silence proliferation-promoting genes, while at the same time activate an unusual form of immune surveillance involving a secretory program referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Here we demonstrate that senescence also involves a global remodeling of the enhancer landscape with recruitment of the chromatin reader BRD4 to newly activated super-enhancers adjacent to key SASP genes. Transcriptional profiling and functional studies indicate that BRD4 is required for the SASP and downstream paracrine signaling. Consequently, BRD4 inhibition disrupts immune cell-mediated targeting and elimination of premalignant senescent cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results identify a critical role for BRD4-bound super-enhancers in senescence immune surveillance and in the proper execution of a tumor-suppressive program.
Project description:Although senescence has long been implicated in aging-associated pathologies, it is not clearly understood how senescent cells are linked to these diseases. To address this knowledge gap, we profiled cellular senescence phenotypes and mRNA expression patterns during replicative senescence in human diploid fibroblasts. We identified a sequential order of gain-of-senescence phenotypes: low levels of reactive oxygen species, cell mass/size increases with delayed cell growth, high levels of reactive oxygen species with increases in senescence-associated M-NM-2-galactosidase activity (SA-M-NM-2-gal), and high levels of SA-M-NM-2-gal activity. Gene expression profiling revealed four distinct modules in which genes were prominently expressed at certain stages of senescence, allowing us to divide the process into four stages: early, middle, advanced, and very advanced. Interestingly, the gene expression modules governing each stage supported the development of the associated senescence phenotypes. Senescence-associated secretory phenotype-related genes also displayed a stage-specific expression pattern with three unique features during senescence: differential expression of interleukin isoforms, differential expression of interleukins and their receptors, and differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitory proteins. The analysis of time series gene expression level during replicaive senescence.