Senescent intimal foam cells are deleterious at all stages of atherosclerosis

It has been reported that senescent cells are also present in atherosclerotic plaques. The contribution of cellular senescence in age-related diseases have been well documented but the role of senescence cells in atherogenesis remains undefined.

This study by the lab from Jan van Deursen showed that senescence cells in plaques worsen the progression of atherosclerosis. Removal of these cells markedly delay atherogenesis, which opens new directions for therapies to treat atherosclerosis.

Science. 2016 Oct 28;354(6311):472-477