Senescent cells dodge cell death by rewiring fat metabolism, study shows

Article excerpt

Senescent cells, those that stop dividing after stress or damage, have a hidden survival strategy. Researchers at Germany's DKFZ discovered these cells rewire their fat metabolism to shield themselves from oxidative stress and ferroptosis, a form of cell death. The finding matters because senescent cells that accumulate in tissues trigger chronic inflammation and raise cancer risk. Understanding how they evade death could open new therapeutic angles for conditions tied to cellular aging.