Genetic and Epigenetic Interactions Involved in Senescence of Stem Cells

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 17; p. 9708
• Main Authors: Iordache, Florin, Petcu, Adriana Cornelia Ionescu, Alexandru, Diana Mihaela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-09-2024
• Subjects: acetylation; Age; Aging; Angiogenesis; Animals; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Cells; cellular senescence; Cellular Senescence - genetics; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Chronic illnesses; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Disease; DNA damage; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetic inheritance; Epigenetics; Genetic aspects; Growth factors; histone; Homeostasis; Humans; Kinases; Macular degeneration; Metabolism; methylation; Osteoarthritis; Oxidative stress; Physiological aspects; Plasma; Proteins; Senescence; Signal transduction; Stem cells; Stem Cells - metabolism; Vaccines; Romania; acetylation; stem cells; cellular senescence; histone; methylation; epigenetics
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179708

Cellular senescence is a permanent condition of cell cycle arrest caused by a progressive shortening of telomeres defined as replicative senescence. Stem cells may also undergo an accelerated senescence response known as premature senescence, distinct from telomere shortening, as a response to different stress agents. Various treatment protocols have been developed based on epigenetic changes in cells throughout senescence, using different drugs and antioxidants, senolytic vaccines, or the reprogramming of somatic senescent cells using Yamanaka factors. Even with all the recent advancements, it is still unknown how different epigenetic modifications interact with genetic profiles and how other factors such as microbiota physiological conditions, psychological states, and diet influence the interaction between genetic and epigenetic pathways. The aim of this review is to highlight the new epigenetic modifications that are involved in stem cell senescence. Here, we review recent senescence-related epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modification, RNA modification, and non-coding RNA regulation outlining new possible targets for the therapy of aging-related diseases. The advantages and disadvantages of the animal models used in the study of cellular senescence are also briefly presented.