Normal primary cells proliferate in culture for a limited number of population doublings prior to undergoing terminal growth arrest and acquiring a senescent phenotype. This finite life span correlates with the age of the organism and with the life expectancy of the species from which the cells were obtained. The older the age or the shorter the life span, the less the ability of the cells to undergo population doubling.
Senescent cells are characterized by an irreversible G1 growth arrest involving the repression of genes that drive cell cycle progression and the upregulation of cell cycle inhibitors like p16INK4a, p53, and its transcriptional target, p21CIP1. They are resistant to mitogen induced proliferation, and assume a characteristic enlarged, flattened morphology. Research into the pathways that positively regulate senescence and ways cells bypass senescence is therefore critical in understanding carcinogenesis. Normal cells have several mechanisms in place to protect against uncontrolled proliferation and tumorigenesis.
Senescent cells show common biochemical markers such as expression of an acidic senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. While senescence has been characterized primarily in cultured cells, there is also evidence that it occurs in vivo. Cells expressing markers of senescence such as SA-β-gal have been identified in normal tissues.
UniProt ID:
P16278
Regulatory Status:
RUO - Research Use Only
Product Literature References
Polo-like kinase 4 inhibitor CFI-400945 suppresses liver cancer through cell cycle perturbation and eliciting antitumor immunity: C.Y.K. Chan, et al.; Hepatology 77, 729 (2023), Abstract;
Unique human and mouse β-cell senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) reveal conserved signaling pathways and heterogeneous factors: A. Midha, et al.; Diabetes 70, 1098 (2021), Abstract;
Metabolism as an early predictor of DPSCs aging: D. Macrin, et al.; Sci. Rep. 9, 2195 (2019), Application(s): human dental pulp stem cells, Abstract; Full Text
Cancer cells biomineralize ionic gold into nanoparticles-microplates via secreting defense proteins with specific gold-binding peptides: A.V. Singh, et al.; Acta Biomater. 71, 61 (2018), Abstract;
Preclinical evaluation of potential therapeutic targets in dedifferentiated liposarcoma: R. Hanes, et al.; Oncotarget 7, 54583 (2016), Application(s): Flow cytometry analysis of cells derived from lipidosarcoma, Abstract;
General Literature References
DNA measurement and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry: R. Nunez; Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 3, 67 (2001), Abstract;
Methods in Cell Biology, Flow Cytometry: Z. Darzynkiewicz, H.A. Crissman and J.P. Robinson (editors and co-authors); Vol. I and II, (1994), Book,