(Vienna, 12 August 2024) New practical guidelines provide an overview of senescence markers in rodent tissues, transgenic models, non-mammalian systems, human tissues and tumors and their use in the identification and specification of senescent (aging) cells. The guidelines provide a unified, modern and accessible set of tools to improve the understanding of cellular senescence in vivo. The guidelines were drawn up by an international research group with the involvement of MedUni Vienna and are currently published in the journal "Cell".
The agreement on basic guidelines allows for scientific discussion and debate across laboratories and country borders. By working together and agreeing on a universal framework, researchers can ensure they all speak the same “language” in order to meet one of the pressing challenges of our societies: the over-aging populations and the high socio-economic burden associated with it, which mandates for strategies to increase the health span of individuals, to get more life into our years.
Multifaceted role of senescence in health and disease
The targeted control of cellular senescence is considered a promising strategy for treating age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, lung and kidney diseases and musculoskeletal disorders, while at the same time promoting tissue regeneration. However, cellular senescence has two sides: While chronic senescence is often associated with tissue damage, transient senescence plays an important role in the healing process. A deep understanding of senescence processes is therefore necessary in order to target the right cells at the right time.
Senescence is a state of the cell triggered by cellular stress in which its cell cycle is permanently halted and the secretion of molecules to the environment is stimulated. Advances in research have created new opportunities to better understand the diverse role of senescence in health and disease and to use senescent cells as therapeutic targets. However, the study of senescent cells in tissues and living organisms presents methodological and practical challenges. Conventional markers discovered and tested in cell culture models often prove inadequate in the natural tissue environment or "in situ".
New standardized set of markers and techniques
The "MICSE" guidelines (short for Minimal Information on Cellular Senescence Experimentation in vivo) were developed to better assess the impact of senescent cells on physiological and pathological processes. They provide a comprehensive overview of senescence markers in different contexts and highlight the technical adaptations required for different test materials, such as biopsies and liquid biopsies (e.g. blood samples). As there is no single biomarker for cellular senescence, MICSE is based on a standardized set of markers and techniques. Several indicators must be measured and provide a coherent picture.
The "Wiggers Bernard: Senescence in vivo" conference and the MICSE guidelines were initiated and coordinated by Mikolaj Ogrodnik (LBG), Johannes Grillari (LBI Trauma and BOKU University), Heinz Redl (LBG), Nadja Ring (LBG) and Marco Demaria (ICSA and ERIBA). Scientists from Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain, the USA, Italy, Greece, Japan, Israel, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands took part. Florian Gruber (Department of Dermatology and Christian Doppler Laboratory "Skinmagine") from MedUni Vienna is involved.
Publication: Cell
Guidelines for minimal information on cellular senescence experimentation in vivo
Volume 187, ISSUE 16, P4150-4175, August 08, 2024
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00640-8