Telomeres, cellular senescence, and aging: past and future


Author: Madeline Eppard1,2, João F Passos3,4, Stella Victorelli5,6

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

<sup>2</sup> Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

<sup>3</sup> Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. passos.joao@mayo.edu.

<sup>4</sup> Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. passos.joao@mayo.edu.

<sup>5</sup> Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. Victorelli.Stella@mayo.edu.

<sup>6</sup> Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. Victorelli.Stella@mayo.edu.
Conference/Journal: Biogerontology
Date published: 2023 Dec 27
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s10522-023-10085-4.   ,  Word Count: 144  
    Over half a century has passed since Alexey Olovnikov's groundbreaking proposal of the end-replication problem in 1971, laying the foundation for our understanding of telomeres and their pivotal role in cellular senescence. This review paper delves into the intricate and multifaceted relationship between cellular senescence, the influence of telomeres in this process, and the far-reaching consequences of telomeres in the context of aging and age-related diseases. Additionally, the paper investigates the various factors that can influence telomere shortening beyond the confines of the end-replication problem and how telomeres can exert their impact on aging, even in the absence of significant shortening. Ultimately, this paper stands as a tribute to the pioneering work of Olovnikov, whose seminal contributions established the solid foundation upon which our ongoing explorations of telomeres and the aging process are based.



Keywords: Aging; Olovnikov; Senescence; Telomeres.



PMID: 38150087 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10085-4