Extracellular Vesicles as Key SASP Carriers Driving Cellular Senescence, Inflammaging, and Therapeutic Opportunities in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Mar 30, 2026Aging and disease

Tiny Cell Particles Carry Aging Signals That Promote Cell Aging and Inflammation, Offering Treatment Possibilities for Aging and Related Diseases

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Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are identified as important vectors in transmitting senescent signals that may contribute to aging-related diseases.

Cellular senescence, marked by a halt in the cell cycle and a specific secretory profile, is a major factor in the aging process.
EVs carry bioactive molecules, facilitating intercellular communication and potentially influencing age-related characteristics.
The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) may drive immunosenescence and chronic inflammation, contributing to aging.
EVs could act as both harmful agents in aging-related dysfunctions and as therapeutic agents for tissue repair.
There is potential for EVs to serve as diagnostic biomarkers for various age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.

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The progressive decline in physiological processes with aging is a complex biological process that increases susceptibility to age-related diseases. Cellular senescence is a primary contributor to this process, a state of sustained cell cycle arrest accompanied by a distinctive secretory profile known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles (MVs), have emerged as key mediators of intercellular communication by carrying bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. In this review, we describe how EVs are important SASP vectors that transmit senescent signals to nearby cells, driving immunosenescence, persistent inflammation (inflammaging), and other aging characteristics, such as stem cell exhaustion and genomic instability. Furthermore, we highlight the dual function of EVs as both pathogenic drivers of aging-related dysfunctions and promising therapeutic agents. In addition, we emphasize their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we explore the emerging therapeutic uses of EVs, particularly those derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to promote tissue repair, reduce aging phenotypes, and serve as engineered drug-delivery systems. This study highlights the critical role of EVs in aging mechanisms and establishes them as potent diagnostic and therapeutic tools for anti-aging.

Extracellular Vesicles as Key SASP Carriers Driving Cellular Senescence, Inflammaging, and Therapeutic Opportunities in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Abstract

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