cGAS is essential for cellular senescence

Cellular senescence is a natural barrier to tumorigenesis and it contributes to the antitumor effects of several therapies, including radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. Senescence also plays an important role in aging, fibrosis, and tissue repair. The DNA damage response is a key event leading to senescence, which is characterized by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that includes expression of inflammatory cytokines. Here we show that cGMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS), a cytosolic DNA sensor that activates innate immunity, is essential for senescence. Deletion of cGAS accelerated the spontaneous immortalization of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. cGAS deletion also abrogated SASP induced by…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• WF
  Welch Foundation

  Award: I-1389
• CP
  Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

  Awards: I-1389, RP120718, RP150498
• FN
  Fujian Normal University