The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) is a complex biological state characterized by senescent cells actively secreting a wide array of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteases into the surrounding tissue microenvironment. This persistent, detrimental secretome contributes significantly to chronic low-grade inflammation, often termed ‘inflammaging,’ and promotes the decline of tissue function. SASP is a critical driver of age-related pathologies and systemic endocrine disruption.
Origin
The term combines ‘senescence,’ from the Latin senex meaning “old,” with ‘secretory phenotype,’ describing the characteristic pattern of substances released by the cell. This concept emerged from cellular biology research identifying the active, harmful role of senescent cells beyond simple cell cycle arrest. Understanding SASP is central to the emerging field of senolytics and longevity medicine.
Mechanism
SASP is triggered by DNA damage, telomere shortening, and oncogenic stress, which induce a permanent cell cycle arrest. The mechanism involves activation of the NF-$kappa$B and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, leading to the sustained transcription and secretion of inflammatory mediators. These secreted factors, including IL-6 and IL-8, act in a paracrine fashion to promote senescence in neighboring healthy cells and impair tissue repair, thereby accelerating the overall process of biological aging and contributing to endocrine resistance.
Lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise naturally clear senescent cells by activating cellular renewal pathways and enhancing immune surveillance.
Molecular signatures of hormonal aging are proteomic shifts in tissues, revealing how endocrine decline orchestrates systemic aging at different rates.
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