Table 1 Characteristics of cellular senescence impacting normal tissue response

P16, p21

Cell cycle arrest at the expense of self-renewal or differentiation

Cell morphology

Cells become flat and larger

B-galactosidase

Cells appear blue with appropriate stain

Chronic ROS & RNS

Damages neighboring cells

Chronic inflammation

Chronic expression of cytokines/chemokines

Altered immunity

Increased dysfunction of both innate and adaptive immune responses

Aging

Fibrosis, tissue remodeling, impaired immune responses to pathogens and greater mortality and morbidity