A senescent cell bystander effect: senescence‐induced senescence

Senescent cells produce and secrete various bioactive molecules including interleukins, growth factors, matrix-degrading enzymes and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, it has been proposed that senescent cells can damage their local environment, and a stimulatory effect on tumour cell growth and invasiveness has been documented. However, it was unknown what effect, if any, senescent cells have on their normal, proliferation-competent counterparts. We show here that senescent cells induce a DNA damage response, characteristic for senescence, in neighbouring cells via gap junction-mediated cell-cell contact and processes involving ROS. Continuous exposure to senescent cells induced cell senescence in intact…

• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Award: G0601333
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BB/I020748/1, BB/F010966/1