Work

Cytoplasmic chromatin fragments—from mechanisms to therapeutic potential

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Senescent cells, damaged cells that permanently exit the cell cycle, play important roles in development, tissue homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Although many of these roles are beneficial in acute responses to stress and damage, the persistent accumulation of senescent cells is associated with many chronic diseases through their proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP expression is linked to DNA damage; however, the mechanisms that control the SASP are incompletely understood. More recently, it has been shown that senescent cells shed fragments of nuclear chromatin into the cytoplasm, so called cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCF). Here, we provide an overview of the current evidence linking DNA damage to the SASP through the formation of CCF. We describe mechanisms of CCF generation and their functional role in senescent cells, with emphasis on therapeutic potential.

Source: eLife

DOI: 10.7554/elife.63728

Authors: Karl N Miller, Nirmalya Dasgupta, Tianhui Liu, Peter D Adams, Maria Grazia Vizioli

Institutions: Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Mayo Clinic, Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, University of Glasgow

Language: English

Topic: Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500