Senolytics

Senolytics are compounds designed to target and eliminate senescent cells. Senescent cells are cells that have stopped dividing and have entered a state of permanent growth arrest without undergoing cell death, known as apoptosis. Despite their arrested growth, these cells can affect surrounding tissues through their secretion of inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and proteases, a phenomenon known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).

Senescent cells accumulate with age and are thought to contribute to various age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and various types of cancer, by promoting inflammation and tissue dysfunction. By selectively inducing death in senescent cells, senolytics aim to reduce this burden and alleviate age-related ailments, potentially extending healthy lifespan.

Researchers are investigating various compounds as potential senolytics, including naturally occurring compounds like quercetin, fisetin, and more targeted synthetic drugs. The field is relatively new but rapidly growing, with increasing interest in how clearing senescent cells can improve health and combat diseases associated with aging. However, while promising in preclinical studies, the safety and efficacy of senolytic drugs are still being evaluated in clinical trials.