Cellular Senescence as a Contributing Cause of Muscle Aging
Senolytic therapies are showing clinical efficacy in human trials,
Recent insights into cellular senescence highlight its critical role in muscle aging, particularly in the context of sarcopenia. This review synthesizes evidence showing that the accumulation of senescent cells in various muscle-related cell types—including muscle stem cells, fibro-adipogenic progenitors, and immune cells—disrupts regenerative processes and contributes to chronic inflammation, ultimately leading to diminished muscle mass and function.
Understanding the mechanisms by which senescence affects skeletal muscle opens new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Senotherapeutics, including senolytics that target and eliminate senescent cells and senomorphics that modulate the detrimental secretory profiles of these cells, represent promising strategies to restore muscle function and potentially delay the onset of sarcopenia.
As the field progresses, addressing the challenges of effectively targeting senescence in muscle tissue will be crucial for developing interventions that enhance healthspan and combat age-related muscle decline.