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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Feb 14.
Published in final edited form as: Ageing Res Rev. 2016 May 20;33:52–66. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.05.009

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5.

Telomere shortening in combination with other alterations is believed to contribute to both cancinogenesis and degenerative disease. In both instances telomere dysfunction can lead to a senescence (irreversible growth arrest) state. In tissues with high turnover there can be depletion of both stem and progenitor cells leading to defective tissue regeneration, decline of tissue function and the onset of degenerative disease. In tissues with slow turnover, senescent cells can initiate a senescence associated secretory pathway known as SASP. Such senescent cells can secrete degradative enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines and other growth factors that can lead to disrupted tissue structure as well as localized inflammation. This microenvironment may favor other alterations leading to an increased risk of cancer. In other instances this inflammatory microenvironment can lead to decline of tissue function and the onset of degenerative disease.