Kurzfassung

Disorders of the digestive system, especially malignant tumors, are among the most common diseases in industrialized countries and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. In order to counter uninhibited growth of damaged intestinal epithelial cells, various tissue-specific and therapy-induced mechanisms can occur. In addition to autophagy, programmed cell death, and others, the induction of cellular senescence plays a key role in that process. Cellular senescence describes a mostly...Disorders of the digestive system, especially malignant tumors, are among the most common diseases in industrialized countries and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. In order to counter uninhibited growth of damaged intestinal epithelial cells, various tissue-specific and therapy-induced mechanisms can occur. In addition to autophagy, programmed cell death, and others, the induction of cellular senescence plays a key role in that process. Cellular senescence describes a mostly irreversible growth arrest which can be triggered by various factors such as DNA damage, telomere shortening or oncogene activation. Senescent cells initially remain within the tissue and have been demonstrated to stay highly metabolically active. They secrete a variety of factors known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Moreover, senescent cells appear to be under increased surveillance by the immune system. In our group, we investigate pro- and anti-tumoral effects of senescent cells in sporadic and inflammatory colorectal carcinoma. In addition, we are interested in the interaction between cells in this stable growth arrest and cells of the innate and acquired immune system.» weiterlesen» einklappen