Distinct secretomes in p16- and p21- positive senescent cells across tissues

SUMMARY Senescent cells drive age-related tissue dysfunction via the induction of a chronic senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 Cip1 and p16 Ink4a have long served as markers of cellular senescence. However, their individual roles remain incompletely elucidated. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive examination of multiple single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets spanning both murine and human tissues during aging. Our analysis revealed that p21 Cip1 and p16 Ink4a transcripts demonstrate significant heterogeneity across distinct cell types and tissues, frequently exhibiting a lack of co-expression. Moreover, we identified tissue-specific variations in SASP profiles linked to p21 Cip1 or p16 Ink4a expression. Our study underscores the extraordinary diversity of cellular senescence and the SASP, emphasizing that these phenomena are inherently cell- and tissue-dependent. However, a few SASP factors consistently contribute to a shared “core” SASP. These findings highlight the need for a more nuanced investigation of senescence across a wide array of biological contexts.