The chemistry of senescence

Senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. Cellular senescence can promote tissue remodelling but can negatively affect regenerative capacities of tissues and contribute to inflammation and the progression of cancer and ageing-related diseases. This Review highlights the chemical characteristics of senescence and how we can target senescent cells with small molecules to induce senescence in hyperproliferative tissues. Alternatively, these small molecules can also be administered to inhibit senescence or eliminate senescent cells as the basis of a promising strategy to treat ageing-related diseases. We also describe advances in detecting senescence in in vitro and in vivo models, such that we can evaluate response to treatments intended to induce or eliminate senescent cells. Senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. This Review highlights the chemical characteristics of senescence and how we can use small molecules to target, detect or eliminate senescent cells, as well as to induce or inhibit senescence.