Membrane transporter Progressive Ankylosis Protein Homolog (ANKH/Ank) partially mediates senescence-derived extracellular citrate and is regulated by DNA damage, inflammation and ageing

A considerable body of recent evidence supports citrate transport as a major regulator of organismal lifespan and healthspan. Citrate accumulates outside senescent cells in vitro and in vivo . However, the detailed mechanism of senescent cell extracellular citrate (EC) accumulation is not clear. We show here that EC is partially mediated by a newly described plasma membrane citrate transporter ANKH/SLC62A1 (progressive human ankylosis - ANKH ) in senescent fibroblasts. Analogous to interleukin 6 (IL-6), EC and/or ANKH are regulated by telomere dysfunction, the p38 mitogen-activated kinase axis, transforming growth factor beta and p53, but in contrast not by steroids, sodium butyrate, or Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM). ANKH was upregulated in other senescent cell types relevant to ageing but not keratinocytes. In contrast, EC and ANKH were inhibited in dividing and senescent fibroblasts by interleukin 1α (IL-1α) in parallel with increased IL-6 secretion. Loss- and gain of function mutations of ANKH/Ank are associated with disease and interestingly, Ank is also downregulated in both aged mouse liver and brain tissues in parallel with increased senescence markers and several cytokines, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines could inhibit EC production in vivo . These data identify ANKH / Ank as a novel regulator of senescence-derived EC in both humans and mice.