Role of Senescent Cells in Cutaneous Wound Healing

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The biology of cellular senescence has broad implications for the fields of aging, tissue and wound repair, tumor biology, and development. Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible growth arrest, which is induced by internal and external stress mechanisms. Senescent cell populations are diverse and display transcriptomic and biomolecular variability, making it difficult to find a sole specific biomarker from defining this state. Although this cell fate is involved in cutaneous wound healing and tissue repair, there is still a substantial gap in understanding how senescent cells modulate regenerative processes. Addressing remaining key questions in the field may guide clinical care and management of both acute and chronic wounds and the development of novel therapeutic agents. ABSTRACT: Cellular senescence has gained increasing attention in the field of aging research. Senescent cells have been implicated in biological aging processes, tumorigenesis, development, and wound repair amongst other processes and pathologies. Recent findings reveal that senescent cells can both promote and inhibit cutaneous wound healing processes. Relating senescent cells in acute and chronic wounds will help to clarify their role in wound healing processes and inform our understanding of senescent cell heterogeneity. To clarify this apparent contradiction and guide future research and therapeutic development, we will review the rapidly growing field of cellular senescence and its role in wound healing biology.