The number of p16INK4a positive cells in human skin reflects biological age
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Cellular senescence is a defense mechanism in response to molecular damage which accumulates with aging. Correspondingly, the number of senescent cells has been reported to be greater in older than in younger subjects and furthermore associates with age‐related pathologies. Inter‐individual differences exist in the rate at which a person ages (biological age). Here, we studied whether younger biological age is related to fewer senescent cells in middle‐aged individuals with the propensity for longevity, using p16INK4a as a marker for cellular senescence. We observed that a younger biological age associates with lower levels of p16INK4a positive cells in human skin.
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The presence of p16-positive cells in the skin, a marker of cellular senescence, is associated with markers of CD4+ T-cell senescence and biological age.
“The presence of p16-positive cells in the skin, which is a marker of cellular senescence, has been found to be associated with markers of CD4+ T-cell senescence and biological age.161,162”
From Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies (2023) · cites this paper as [161]
The paper reports that fewer p16INK4a-positive skin cells are associated with younger biological age and identifies p16INK4a as a marker of cellular senescence (passages labeled Abstract; page unavailable). It does not report an association between skin p16INK4a-positive cells and markers of CD4+ T-cell senescence. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSenescent cells build up with aging and are also found in obesity and diabetes.
“Accumulation of senescent cells occurs during aging and is also seen in the context of obesity and diabetes.”
From Cellular Senescence in Type 2 Diabetes: A Therapeutic Opportunity (2015) · cites this paper as [22]
Senescent cell burden is low in young individuals but increases with aging in several tissues, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, kidney, and skin.
“Senescent cell burden is low in young individuals but increases with aging in several tissues including adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, kidney, and skin (20–22).”
From Cellular Senescence in Type 2 Diabetes: A Therapeutic Opportunity (2015) · cites this paper as [22]
Many studies indicate that senescent cell burden is increased in tissues that undergo damage in diabetes, such as skin, pancreas, and kidney.
“Although much work still needs to be done to link cellular senescence to the pathogenesis of diabetes, many studies have indicated that senescent cell burden is increased in tissues that undergo damage in diabetes, such as the skin, pancreas, and kidney (22,63,67).”
From Cellular Senescence in Type 2 Diabetes: A Therapeutic Opportunity (2015) · cites this paper as [22]
Senescent cells accumulate exponentially with ageing in different organs and tissues in model organisms and humans.
“Studies have shown that senescent cells accumulate exponentially with ageing in different organs and tissues, both in model organisms and in humans97–100.”
From Inflammageing: chronic inflammation in ageing, cardiovascular disease, and frailty (2018) · cites this paper as [98]
In humans, accumulation of senescent markers has been demonstrated in skin, T lymphocytes, atherosclerotic lesions, insulin-producing β cells, kidney, endothelium, visceral fat, joint cartilage, cardiac muscle, liver, and many other tissues.
“In humans, the accumulation of senescent markers has been demonstrated in the skin, T lymphocytes, atherosclerotic lesions, insulin-producing β cells, kidney, endothelium, visceral fat, joint cartilage, cardiac muscle, liver, and many others tissues98,101–107.”
From Inflammageing: chronic inflammation in ageing, cardiovascular disease, and frailty (2018) · cites this paper as [98]
Senescent cells are more common in the normal tissues of aged individuals, especially in skin and adipose tissue.
“Senescent cells are more common in the normal tissues of aged individuals, especially in certain tissue types, such as skin and adipose tissue [38,39,40].”
From Senescence and Cancer: A Review of Clinical Implications of Senescence and Senotherapies (2020) · cites this paper as [40]
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References 24 · Cited by 264
- Authors
- Waaijer, M. E. C., Parish, W. E., Strongitharm, B. H., van Heemst, D., Slagboom, P. E., de Craen, A. J. M., Sedivy, J. M., Westendorp, R. G. J., Gunn, D. A., & Maier, A. B.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
- Unilever (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Brown University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Maier, Andrea B.
- Venue
- Aging Cell
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-06-11
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 722-725
- ISSN
- 1474-9718 (ISSN-L)
- 1474-9726
- PMC
- PMC3539756
- OpenAlex
- W1533710382
- Cited by
- 264
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 8.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Aging Cell (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Unilever (FP6 036894)
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (050.060.810, 05040202)
- National Institute on Aging (R37AG016694, R01AG016694)
- 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 › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Keywords
- p16INK4a, cellular senescence, biological age, skin, longevity, senescent cells, aging, middle-aged adults
- MeSH terms
- Epidermal Cells, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cell Count, Epidermis, Female, Fibroblasts, Humans, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Skin, Biomarkers, Skin Aging, Cellular Senescence, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
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