Spatial and Temporal Control of Senescence. Trends in cell biology Cellular senescence is an autonomous tumor suppressor mechanism leading to stable cell cycle arrest. Senescent cells are highly secretory, driving a range of different functions through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Recent findings have suggested that the composition of the SASP is dynamically and spatially regulated and that the changing composition of the SASP can determine the beneficial and detrimental aspects of the senescence program, tipping the balance to either an immunosuppressive/profibrotic environment or proinflammatory/fibrolytic state. Here, we discuss the current understanding of the temporal and spatial regulation of the SASP and the novel finding of NOTCH signaling as a regulator of SASP composition. 10.1016/j.tcb.2017.07.004

G3BP1 controls the senescence-associated secretome and its impact on cancer progression. Omer Amr,Barrera Monica Cruz,Moran Julian L,Lian Xian J,Di Marco Sergio,Beausejour Christian,Gallouzi Imed-Eddine Nature communications Cellular senescence is a known driver of carcinogenesis and age-related diseases, yet senescence is required for various physiological processes. However, the mechanisms and factors that control the negative effects of senescence while retaining its benefits are still elusive. Here, we show that the rasGAP SH3-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) is required for the activation of the senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). During senescence, G3BP1 achieves this effect by promoting the association of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) with cytosolic chromatin fragments. In turn, G3BP1, through cGAS, activates the NF-κB and STAT3 pathways, promoting SASP expression and secretion. G3BP1 depletion or pharmacological inhibition impairs the cGAS-pathway preventing the expression of SASP factors without affecting cell commitment to senescence. These SASPless senescent cells impair senescence-mediated growth of cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Our data reveal that G3BP1 is required for SASP expression and that SASP secretion is a primary mediator of senescence-associated tumor growth. 10.1038/s41467-020-18734-9

Genetic origins, regulators, and biomarkers of cellular senescence. Trends in genetics : TIG This review comprehensively examines the molecular biology and genetic origins of cellular senescence. We focus on various cellular stressors and pathways leading to senescence, including recent advances in the understanding of the genetic influences driving senescence, such as telomere attrition, chemotherapy-induced DNA damage, pathogens, oncogene activation, and cellular and metabolic stress. This review also highlights the complex interplay of various signaling and metabolic pathways involved in cellular senescence and provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for aging-related diseases. Furthermore, this review outlines future research directions to deepen our understanding of senescence biology and develop effective interventions targeting senescent cells (SnCs). 10.1016/j.tig.2024.08.007

Histone chaperone HIRA, promyelocytic leukemia protein, and p62/SQSTM1 coordinate to regulate inflammation during cell senescence. Molecular cell Cellular senescence, a stress-induced stable proliferation arrest associated with an inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), is a cause of aging. In senescent cells, cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCFs) activate SASP via the anti-viral cGAS/STING pathway. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein organizes PML nuclear bodies (NBs), which are also involved in senescence and anti-viral immunity. The HIRA histone H3.3 chaperone localizes to PML NBs in senescent cells. Here, we show that HIRA and PML are essential for SASP expression, tightly linked to HIRA's localization to PML NBs. Inactivation of HIRA does not directly block expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) target genes. Instead, an H3.3-independent HIRA function activates SASP through a CCF-cGAS-STING-TBK1-NF-κB pathway. HIRA physically interacts with p62/SQSTM1, an autophagy regulator and negative SASP regulator. HIRA and p62 co-localize in PML NBs, linked to their antagonistic regulation of SASP, with PML NBs controlling their spatial configuration. These results outline a role for HIRA and PML in the regulation of SASP. 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.08.006