BioEssays 5∕2017

Targeting the SASP to combat ageing . In article number 1600235 , Birch and Passos discuss potential senescence therapies in the fight against ageing. Senescence is characterised by the development of a secretory phenotype, whereby cells release pro‐inflammatory mediators; the so‐called senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP can impact on neighbouring cells, leading to further senescence induction and pro‐inflammatory effects, and is therefore considered to be a major contributor to ageing and age‐related disease. Mitochondria are important for senescence and the SASP. Therefore, mitochondria could be key targets to eliminate senescent cells or ‘fine‐tune’ the SASP. Anti‐senescent therapies include targeting the upregulation of mitochondrial anti‐apoptotic proteins with senolytics, targeting mitochondrial‐derived ROS with antioxidants or impacting on changes in mitochondrial metabolism that have been described in senescent cells.