biostudies-literatureZang YNaito FoundationTakeda Science FoundationJapan Agency for Medical Research and DevelopmentMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyJapan Society for the Promotion of Science112048https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11928871biostudies-literatureUnknown28(3)Cellular senescence is an irreversible cell-cycle arrest often associated with cancer and aging, yet its physiological role remains elusive. Here, we show developmentally programmed cellular senescence occurs in <i>Drosophila</i> imaginal epithelium. In developing wing discs, two clusters of cells exhibit hallmarks of cellular senescence such as elevated senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, cell-cycle arrest, heterochromatinization, upregulation of a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor Dacapo, cellular hypertrophy, Ras signaling activation, and upregulation of an inflammatory cytokine unpaired3, a possible component of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Blocking programmed cell senescence by inhibiting Ras signaling or its downstream transcription factor Pointed iScienceProgrammed cell senescence is required for sensory organ development in &lt;i&gt;Drosophila&lt;/i&gt;.PMC119288711793873116K14606Igaki TZang YYoshimoto MfalseProgrammed cell senescence is required for sensory organ development in &lt;i&gt;Drosophila&lt;/i&gt;.Cellular senescence is an irreversible cell-cycle arrest often associated with cancer and aging, yet its physiological role remains elusive. Here, we show developmentally programmed cellular senescence occurs in <i>Drosophila</i> imaginal epithelium. In developing wing discs, two clusters of cells exhibit hallmarks of cellular senescence such as elevated senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, cell-cycle arrest, heterochromatinization, upregulation of a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor Dacapo, cellular hypertrophy, Ras signaling activation, and upregulation of an inflammatory cytokine unpaired3, a possible component of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Blocking programmed cell senescence by inhibiting Ras signaling or its downstream transcription factor Pointed 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-05-29T14:50:20.138Z2026-04-08T05:06:40.227ZS-EPMC119288714012451510.1016/j.isci.2025.112048