Image Credit: News Medical
Take care of your mind, your body will thank you. Take care of your body, your mind will thank you. – Debbie Hampton
Article Authors: Gordon Slater| Tandose Sambo
The human body is a biological marvel that has a multitude of processes that are operating in synchronicity with each other. Cellular senescence is a stress induced condition that results in a variety of age-related health conditions. Medical research has identified that with the appropriate management of cellular senescence, wound healing can be optimised. The catalysts for cellular senescence have been found to be both intrinsic and extrinsic. Biological pathways for the development of senescent cells have begun to be elucidated. Cellular senescence is defined as an essentially irreversible growth arrest that is induced by cellular stresses. These stresses include telomere erosion and DNA damage. Senescent cells are also found to be anti-tumour.
How is cellular senescence related to stress?
Cellular senescence is a stress related response that induces mechanisms that are usually attributed to ageing. The first response is a gradual loss of function that occurs in the molecular mechanisms of an organism. While ageing occurs naturally with time, stress can accelerate the process and result in conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, osteoporosis and other conditions. [1] While various conditions can contribute to the progression of age-related conditions, they are typically naturally identified once persons mature to the 50-60 age range and beyond.
Impacts of Cellular Senescence
Cell proliferation and growth is paused by the onset of particular stresses on the body. These stresses include oncogenic stress, and one of the medical theories suggests that senescence is actually a mechanism that evolved as the body’s means of inhibiting cancer growth. If the body can prevent proliferation of malignant cells, it will be possible to sustain the proliferation of healthier cells in the body. Medical science has identified that there are two primary mechanisms by which tumour growth is suppressed. These are via the mechanisms of the proteins p53/p21 and the p16Ink4a/retinoblastoma protein (pRb). These two pairs of proteins have the ability to inhibit malignant tumour growth. This knowledge is phase one of the unfoldment of healing of the body during the more mature phases of life.
Conclusion
The discovery of cellular senescence is an ever evolving topic that the medical community is now starting to uncover. There are many medical paradoxes that exist, and cellular senescence falls in such a category. While helping both wound healing and tissue repair, the medical community is still attempting to identify how best to optimally utilise the onset of the right senescent cells. The presence of senescent cells is often an indicator of breakdown of normal cellular operation, yet it proves the ability of the body to inhibit adverse conditions.The complexity of cellular mechanisms will take years to uncover, and knowing that the phenomenon exists is of current benefit to medical research.
As cells become smart enough to know how to proliferate in the body, the maintenance of the right healthy cells can be achieved. Treatment of orthopaedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, could benefit from an understanding of cellular senescence. Knowing the root cause of any condition is the key to preventing its onset, and key to cure.
Reference:
[1] Wounds: Cellular Senescence
