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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Mech Ageing Dev. 2020 Dec 28;194:111428. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111428

Fig. 1. Characteristics of senescent cells.

Fig. 1.

Accumulation of senescent cells in the body promote inflammation, cancer, aging and age-associated diseases. Senescent cells are characterized by the expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal), the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of β-galactosides into monosaccharides; by the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors (p16/p21); by increased secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators that constitute the SASP; by increased oxidative stress and macromolecular damage. Senescent cells are also flexible in the utilization of different metabolic pathways. Their metabolic reprogramming allows them to survive in the hostile inflammatory environment and to support their function.