Journal Cell Genomics - Cellular senescence in human liver under normal aging and cancer

Authors: Alla Karpova, Xiang Li, Chien-Wei Peng, ..., Feng Chen, Ryan C. Fields, Li Ding Journal: CellGenomics

In brief: Karpova et al. used single-cell and spatial technologies to map senescent cells in the human liver. They show that aging, fibrosis, cancer, and chemotherapy expand distinct senescent cell types that cluster in specific regions and interact with immune and stromal cells, contributing to liver damage.

Highlights: 

• p21-driven (CDKN1A) senescence is a predominant mechanism in liver aging and fibrosis

• Senescent hepatocytes form spatial clusters shaped by paracrine cell-cell interactions

• Conserved fibroblast-immune interactions enhanced with fibrosis severity

• Chemotherapy exacerbates senescence, raising senescent cell levels 5-fold versus aging

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