The Role of Cellular Senescence and SASP in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and the Therapeutic Potential of Senolytic Strategies in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cellular senescence is associated with the development of age-related diseases.

• Cellular senescence involves a permanent halt in the cell cycle and is linked to various age-related diseases.
• The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) contributes to chronic inflammation and vascular issues in atherosclerosis.
• Different forms of cellular senescence, such as replicative, stress-induced, and oncogene-induced, are identified in cardiovascular contexts.
• Senescent cells, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages, may play significant roles in both the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.
• Therapeutic strategies like senolytic and senomorphic therapies show potential in addressing chronic vascular inflammation and enhancing plaque stability, although challenges remain for clinical application.

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