WEB FOCUS
Senescence: Cells, ageing and cancer
Credit: L. Trotman/Z. ChenIn this focus:
Is growing old a good thing? As cells mature they naturally stop dividing and enter a period called senescence. But cellular senescence can also be induced prematurely by certain oncogenes involved in cancer development. Four papers in Nature show that, as previously suggested by in vitro studies, oncogene-induced cellular senescence represents a safety mechanism to suppress tumour progression in vivo.
Cellular senescence also plays a key role in ageing. In this web focus, Nature brings together articles on senescence and cancer with key publications in ageing research, including primary research papers, News & Views and a review article.
Current research
ARTICLE
Oncogene-induced senescence as an initial barrier in lymphoma development
Braig M. et al.
Nature 436, 660-665 (4 Aug 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03841
LETTERS
BRAFE600-associated senescence-like cell cycle arrest of human naevi
Michaloglou C. et al.
Nature 436, 720-724 (4 Aug 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03890
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Crucial role of p53-dependent cellular senescence in suppression of Pten-deficient tumorigenesis
Chen Z. et al.
Nature 436, 725-730 (4 Aug 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03918
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BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
Tumour biology: Senescence in premalignant tumours
Collado M. et al.
Nature 436, 642-642 (4 Aug 2005) doi:10.1038/nature436642a
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NEWS AND VIEWS
Cancer: Crime and punishment
Cellular senescence stops the growth of cells. This process, first glimpsed in cell culture, is now confirmed by in vivo evidence as a vital mechanism that constrains the malignant progression of many tumours.
Sharpless N. & DePinho R.
Nature 436, 636-637 (4 Aug 2005) doi:10.1038/nature436636a
LETTER
Accelerated ageing in mice deficient in Zmpste24 protease is linked to p53 signalling activation
Varela I. et al.
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LETTERS
Nutrient control of glucose homeostasis through a complex of PGC-1α and SIRT1
Rodgers J. et al.
Nature 434, 113-118 (3 Mar 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03354
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Rejuvenation of aged progenitor cells by exposure to a young systemic environment
Conboy I. et al.
Nature 433, 760-764 (17 Feb 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03260
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Regulation of cellular response to oncogenic and oxidative stress by Seladin-1
Wu C. et al.
Nature 432, 640-645 (2 Dec 2004) doi:10.1038/nature03173
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Sirtuin activators mimic caloric restriction and delay ageing in metazoans
Wood J. et al.
Nature 430, 686-689 (5 Aug 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02789
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Gene regulation and DNA damage in the ageing human brain
Lu T. et al.
Nature 429, 883-891 (24 Jun 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02661
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Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization in white adipocytes by repressing PPAR-γ
Picard F. et al.
Nature 429, 771-776 (17 Jun 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02583
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Drosophila dFOXO controls lifespan and regulates insulin signalling in brain and fat body
Hwangbo D.S. et al.
Nature 429, 562-566 (3 Jun 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02549
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Premature ageing in mice expressing defective mitochondrial DNA polymerase
Trifunovic A. et al.
Nature 429, 417-423 (27 May 2004) doi:10.1038/nature02517
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NEWS AND VIEWS
Ageing: Mice and mitochondria
It can be hard to work out whether particular events are a cause or a correlate of ageing do mutations in mitochondrial DNA, for instance, speed up the process of growing old? Some clever studies suggest so.
Martin G. & Loeb L.
Nature 429, 357-359 (27 May 2004) doi:10.1038/nature429357a
NEWS AND VIEWS FEATURE
Ageing and the mystery at Arles
What determines how long we will live? Studies of simple organisms, single cells and mammals hint that certain shared principles underlie ageing, and raise the possibility of devising ways to extend life if we want to.
Nemoto S. & Finkel T.
Nature 429, 149-152 (13 May 2004) doi:10.1038/nature429149a
INSIGHT ARTICLE
Intrinsic tumour suppression
Lowe S., Cepero E. & Evan G.
Nature 432, 307-315 (18 Nov 2004) doi:10.1038/nature03098
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