Cited by 358Epigenetics and DNA MethylationTelomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Senescent cells harbour features of the cancer epigenome

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Cruickshanks, Hazel A., McBryan, Tony, Nelson, David M., VanderKraats, Nathan D., Shah, Parisha P., van Tuyn, John, Singh Rai, Taranjit, Brock, Claire +7 more·2013·Nature Cell Biology

Abstract

Altered DNA methylation and associated destabilization of genome integrity and function is a hallmark of cancer. Replicative senescence is a tumour suppressor process that imposes a limit on the proliferative potential of normal cells that all cancer cells must bypass. Here we show by whole-genome single-nucleotide bisulfite sequencing that replicative senescent human cells exhibit widespread DNA hypomethylation and focal hypermethylation. Hypomethylation occurs preferentially at gene-poor, late-replicating, lamin-associated domains and is linked to mislocalization of the maintenance DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) in cells approaching senescence. Low-level gains of methylation are enriched in CpG islands, including at genes whose methylation and silencing is thought to promote cancer. Gains and losses of methylation in replicative senescence are thus qualitatively similar to those in cancer, and this 'reprogrammed' methylation landscape is largely retained when cells bypass senescence. Consequently, the DNA methylome of senescent cells might promote malignancy, if these cells escape the proliferative barrier.

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  • The DNA methylation profile of senescence somewhat resembles cancer- and aging-associated methylome patterns.

    “Interestingly, this DNA methylation profile somewhat resembles the cancer- and aging-associated methylome patterns (Cruickshanks et al., 2013; Xie et al., 2018).”

    From Cellular Senescence: Defining a Path Forward (2019) · cites this paper as Cruickshanks et al., 2013

    The Results section, “Methylation changes in senescence resemble those in cancer” (page unavailable), reports a partial but highly significant overlap between methylation changes in senescent cells and cancer cells. The paper also notes earlier findings of declining overall methylation in cultured primary human cells, but our copy does not establish a broader resemblance to aging-associated methylome patterns. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Decompacted hSATII loci are a characteristic feature of senescent fibroblasts.

    “These findings suggest that decompacted hSATII loci are a characteristic feature of senescent fibroblasts, consistent with previous reports on satellite distension during senescence (23–25).”
  • During replicative senescence, late-replicating gene-poor regions show widespread DNA hypomethylation, while tumour suppressor genes show focal hypermethylation.

    “During replicative senescence, late-replicating, gene-poor regions display widespread DNA hypomethylation, whereas focal hypermethylation is seen at tumour suppressor genes”
  • Senescence-associated distension of satellites corresponds to de-compaction of (peri-)centric constitutive heterochromatin.

    “Another chromatin feature, termed senescence-associated distension of satellites (SADSs), corresponds to de-compaction of (peri-)centric constitutive heterochromatin (Cruickshanks et al., 2013; De Cecco et al., 2013; Swanson et al., 2013).”

    From Cellular Senescence: Defining a Path Forward (2019) · cites this paper as Cruickshanks et al., 2013

  • Cellular senescence entails focal increases in DNA methylation at certain CpG islands.

    “In addition to the global loss of DNA methylation, cellular senescence entails focal increases in DNA methylation at certain CpG islands (Cruickshanks et al., 2013).”

    From Cellular Senescence: Defining a Path Forward (2019) · cites this paper as Cruickshanks et al., 2013

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Authors
Cruickshanks, H. A., McBryan, T., Nelson, D. M., VanderKraats, N. D., Shah, P. P., van Tuyn, J., Singh Rai, T., Brock, C., Donahue, G., Dunican, D. S., Drotar, M. E., Meehan, R. R., Edwards, J. R., Berger, S. L., & Adams, P. D.
Affiliations
  • Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (GB)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer (GB)
Corresponding author
Adams, Peter D.
Venue
Nature Cell Biology
Published
2013-11-24
Volume
15
Issue
12
Pages
1495-1506
ISSN
  • 1465-7392 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4679
OpenAlex
W2085683078
Cited by
358
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 2
FWCI
10.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J021032/1)
  • National Institute on Aging (P01AG031862)
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine (R21LM011199)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
replicative senescence, DNA methylation, DNA hypomethylation, DNA hypermethylation, cancer epigenome, lamin-associated domains, CpG islands, senescence escape, p53 inactivation, pRb inactivation, tumour suppressor, methylome
MeSH terms
DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1, Cell Line, DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases, Humans, Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Gene Expression, Genome, Human, Cellular Senescence, Cell Cycle Proteins, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Protein Transport, Epigenesis, Genetic, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors

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