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Self-Directed Senescence

Meaning

Self-Directed Senescence describes the intricate biological process by which a cell enters a state of irreversible growth arrest, often triggered by internal cellular damage, such as telomere shortening or DNA damage, which is a key hallmark of aging. While often viewed negatively, this process is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism intended to prevent the proliferation of damaged or potentially cancerous cells. However, the accumulation of these senescent cells over time contributes to chronic inflammation and tissue dysfunction, a phenomenon known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). Understanding this cellular fate is central to developing anti-aging therapies.