Cell senescence is closely related to the physiological and pathological processes such as embryonic development, injury and regeneration, cancer and senescence. However, the same is“Old” cells, but there are good and bad, some in the body chaos, some silently guard health. But how to accurately identify senescent cells in the“Good cells” and“Bad cells” is a problem.
Zhou bin and his colleagues at the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Chinese Academy of Sciences Cell Science have published a new study in the international journal cell. By developing lineage-tracing systems and functional studies of cellular senescence in vivo, the team systematically analyzed the specific roles of different types of senescent cells in liver damage and repair.
The team set up a system to trace the lineage of senescent cells in the body and developed techniques to study the function of different types of senescent cells. It was found that macrophages and endothelial cells were involved in the cellular senescence of the mouse model after liver injury. Senescent macrophages proliferate when the liver is damaged and secrete inflammatory factors after liver injury, leading to liver fibrosis, while senescent endothelial cells still play an important role in the repair process after liver injury, limit liver damage and fibrosis.
The team found that clearing senescent macrophages could limit liver fibrosis. Conversely, the clearance of senescent endothelial cells will trigger the liver tissue to a pro-fibrotic environment, fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells to increase the ability to proliferate. In addition, the team achieved reprogramming of senescent endothelial cells to reduce liver fibrosis and thus ameliorate liver damage.
The above research provides a new idea for the research of cell senescence and regenerative medicine, and also provides a new research direction and theoretical basis for the treatment of liver diseases.