Matrix stiffness induces endothelial network senescence.

ABSTRACT: Identifying the drivers of cellular senescence that contribute to the decline in tissue function related to aging- and disease is critical for developing restorative interventions. Here, we investigated how increased mechanical stress from extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening shapes endothelial cell (EC) senescence. We developed a 3D human in vitro model that decouples mechanical stress from inflammatory or biochemical inputs, enabling the study of senescence responses to tissue stiffening alone. We found that matrix stiffening induces an EC senescence phenotype with elevated p16/p21 and an immunomodulatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), in the absence of inflammatory signals. This mechano-induced senescence state engaged a Notch-JNK-FOS signaling axis, and pharm

SUBMITTER: Song J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632338 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature