Sunitinib selectively killed senescent cells in the lab

In experiments with human fibroblasts, cells that help form connective tissue, researchers screened drugs for effects on senescent cells. Senescence is a state in which cells stop dividing. They identified sunitinib, which inhibits several proteins that receive growth signals. It triggered programmed cell death specifically in senescent fibroblasts.

The researchers linked this response to platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, a protein that receives growth signals. Reducing production of this receptor made senescent cells more sensitive to cell death, with minimal effects on non-senescent fibroblasts. In a separate experiment in mice with chemically induced lung scarring, sunitinib reduced senescent cells. The findings suggested that targeting this receptor may offer an approach to selectively killing senescent cells.