Longevity & AgingSticky RNA-DNA Loops in Senescent Cells Drive Chronic Inflammation
Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism inside senescent cells that fuels chronic inflammation throughout the body. During normal protein production, RNA temporarily binds to DNA forming structures called R-loops. In healthy cells, these are quickly dismantled by enzymes called helicases. In senescent cells, however, R-loops persist abnormally in the cytoplasm — outside the nucleus — and this triggers the cell to release inflammatory signaling molecules. This so-called senescence-associated secretory phenotype, or SASP, is a well-known driver of aging-related disease. The new finding pinpoints a specific transcriptional failure as an upstream cause of that inflammatory cascade, potentially opening new therapeutic targets to reduce systemic inflammation linked to aging.
