Cellular senescence in the skin.
Aging is characterized by the progressive decline of tissue function and regenerative capacity, influenced by both intrinsic factors (natural accumulation of damage) and extrinsic stressors such as ultraviolet (UV) exposure and oxidative stress. Cellular senescence—an irreversible exit from the cell cycle triggered by excessive damage—has been extensively linked to tissue and organismal aging.
In a recent review, Dr. Bernadette Carroll and her team at the University of Bristol highlight the role of cellular senescence in skin aging. The study explores how mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1), a master growth regulator, becomes dysregulated in aged skin. Additionally, it examines how the interplay between mTORC1 and lysosomes contributes to senescence phenotypes. Given the skin’s critical role as a protective barrier, understanding these mechanisms may pave the way for novel interventions in age-related skin deterioration.
Image Credit: Smith, P. and Carroll, B. (2025), FEBS J.