Senescence

Premature senescence can be induced by oxidative stress or DNA-damaging agents and results in a metabolically active, non-dividing, but apoptotic death resistant cell type with modified morphology. Replicative senescence is an age-related process and is caused by shortening of telomeres. In contrast to quiescence, replicative senescence is not reversible and is discussed as a tumour suppressive mechanism. For the evidence of senescent cells in vitro as well as in tumour tissue EPO uses a specific β-galactosidase staining at pH 6.0 described by Dimri et al. (1995)*.

Fig.1: β-galactosidase staining blue in lung (A) and breast (B) cancer xenograft sections. Magnification: 200x (A) and 100x (B).

*Dimri et al. (1995): PNAS 92, pp 9363-9367

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