Cited by 94Telomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

Cellular senescence as a potential mediator of COVID‐19 severity in the elderly

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Nehme, Jamil, Borghesan, Michela, Mackedenski, Sebastian, Bird, Thomas G., Demaria, Marco·2020·Aging Cell

Abstract

SARS‐CoV‐2 is a novel betacoronavirus which infects the lower respiratory tract and can cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), a complex respiratory distress syndrome. Epidemiological data show that COVID‐19 has a rising mortality particularly in individuals with advanced age. Identifying a functional association between SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and the process of biological aging may provide a tractable avenue for therapy to prevent acute and long‐term disease. Here, we discuss how cellular senescence—a state of stable growth arrest characterized by pro‐inflammatory and pro‐disease functions—can hypothetically be a contributor to COVID‐19 pathogenesis, and a potential pharmaceutical target to alleviate disease severity. First, we define why older COVID‐19 patients are more likely to accumulate high levels of cellular senescence. Second, we describe how senescent cells can contribute to an uncontrolled SARS‐CoV‐2‐mediated cytokine storm and an excessive inflammatory reaction during the early phase of the disease. Third, we discuss the various mechanisms by which senescent cells promote tissue damage leading to lung failure and multi‐tissue dysfunctions. Fourth, we argue that a high senescence burst might negatively impact on vaccine efficacy. Measuring the burst of cellular senescence could hypothetically serve as a predictor of COVID‐19 severity, and targeting senescence‐associated mechanisms prior and after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection might have the potential to limit a number of severe damages and to improve the efficacy of vaccinations.

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  1. Carsana, L., Sonzogni, A., Nasr, A., Rossi, R., Pellegrinelli, A., Zerbi, P., & Nebuloni, M. (2020). Pulmonary post‐mortem findings in a series of COVID‐19 cases from northern Italy: A two‐centre descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, S1473–3099(20), 30434– 30435. 10.1016/S14733099(20)30434-5 PMC7279758 32526193 · DOI
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Authors
Nehme, J., Borghesan, M., Mackedenski, S., Bird, T. G., & Demaria, M.
Affiliations
  • University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
  • Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (GB)
Corresponding author
Demaria, Marco
Venue
Aging Cell
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-09-21
Volume
19
Issue
10
Pages
e13237-e13237
ISSN
  • 1474-9718 (ISSN-L)
  • 1474-9726
OpenAlex
W3087257480
Cited by
94
References
151
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 2
FWCI
2.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Aging Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (107492/Z/15/Z)
  • Cancer Research UK (26813)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
Keywords
cellular senescence, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, older adults, disease severity, cytokine storm, inflammation, respiratory failure, tissue damage, vaccine efficacy, biological aging, senolytics
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, Severity of Illness Index, Biomarkers, Cellular Senescence, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics

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