Cellular senescence is increasingly recognized as a hallmark of aging, contributing significantly to various age-related morbidities and decline. One of the defining features of senescent cells is their pro-inflammatory secretome, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This review consolidates evidence focused on human biomarkers of senescence found in circulation and discusses how these biomarkers correlate with clinical traits and diseases associated with aging.
The authors highlight that tracking SASP factors in the bloodstream may allow for a non-invasive assessment of senescence burden in clinical settings. This could provide valuable insights into an individual’s susceptibility to age-related morbidity. The review categorizes the clinical parameters associated with circulating senescence biomarkers into four main health domains: neurodegeneration, pulmonary disease, cardiometabolic disease, and musculoskeletal disorders.
What this study does not show
This review does not provide direct evidence of the efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions on health outcomes related to senescence biomarkers, as it primarily summarizes existing literature.
For each health domain, the authors explore the biological mechanisms behind the negative impacts of senescence, supported by findings from clinical and preclinical models. They suggest that the accumulation of senescent cells may inhibit stemness throughout the body, indicating a causal role of senescence in age-related decline. This understanding opens potential therapeutic avenues aimed at mitigating the effects of senescence.
Notably, certain circulating biomarkers of senescence, such as GDF15 and Activin A, have shown cross-study clinical relevance, indicating their involvement in various morbidities across multiple health domains. The insights provided in this review contribute to a framework for understanding the role of senescence in aging and the potential development of diagnostic biomarker panels that could enhance clinical care in the future.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Partial
- Clinical utility: Not established
The evidence is based on a review of existing literature on circulating biomarkers of senescence in humans.