Cited by 9Telomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsAutophagy in Disease and Therapy

Comparative analysis of senolytic drugs reveals mitochondrial determinants of efficacy and resistance

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Wakita, Masahiro, Ito, Koyu, Fujii, Kaho, Sakamoto, Dai, Mikawa, Takumi, Sugawara, Sho, Zhou, Xiangyu, Park, Jeong Hoon +7 more·2026·Nature Aging

Abstract

Cellular senescence contributes to aging and disease, and senolytic drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells hold therapeutic promise. Although over 20 candidates have been reported, their relative efficacies remain unclear. Here we systematically compared 21 senolytic agents using a senolytic specificity index, identifying the Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT263 and the BET inhibitor ARV825 as most effective senolytics across fibroblast and epithelial senescence models. However, even upon extended treatment with these most potent senolytics, a proportion of senescent cells remained viable. We found that senolytic resistance was driven by maintenance of mitochondrial integrity through V-ATPase-mediated clearance of damaged mitochondria. Imposing mitochondrial stress via metabolic workload enhanced the senolytic efficacies of ABT263 and ARV825 in vitro, and in mouse models, ketogenic diet adoption or SGLT2 inhibition similarly potentiated ABT263-induced and ARV825-induced senolysis, reducing metastasis and tumor growth. These findings suggest that mitochondrial quality control is a key determinant of resistance to ABT263-induced and ARV825-induced senolysis, providing a possible framework for rational combination senotherapies.

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Authors
Wakita, M., Ito, K., Fujii, K., Sakamoto, D., Mikawa, T., Sugawara, S., Zhou, X., Park, J. H., Miyagawa, H., Motooka, D., Ogasawara, E., Ishihara, N., Takahashi, A., Kondoh, H., & Hara, E.
Affiliations
  • Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka (JP)
  • Shiga University of Medical Science (JP)
  • Kyoto University (JP)
  • Japanese Foundation For Cancer Research (JP)
  • The University of Osaka (JP)
  • Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, The University of Osaka (JP)
Corresponding author
Hara, Eiji
Venue
Nature Aging
Published
2026-01-29
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
316-328
ISSN
2662-8465 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W7126117731
Cited by
9
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 9
FWCI
41.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Aging (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP25gm1710004h0004, JP24ama221114h0003, JP25zf0127008s0104, JP25gm1710013h0002)
  • MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JPMJMS2022)
  • MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP25H00443, JP25K14865, JP25KJ1722)
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (JPMXP1323015484)
  • Mitsubishi Foundation (202012016)
  • The University of Osaka OU Master Plan Implementation Project
  • Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Keywords
senolytics, cellular senescence, navitoclax, mitochondrial quality control, V-ATPase, mitochondrial clearance, mitochondrial stress, ketogenic diet, SGLT2 inhibition, metastasis, tumor growth, fibroblast senescence
MeSH terms
Senotherapeutics, Aniline Compounds, Animals, Drug Resistance, Fibroblasts, Humans, Mitochondria, Sulfonamides, Cellular Senescence, Mice, Quinazolinones, Diet, Ketogenic

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