Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in the developing avian retina - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2019 Sep;248(9):850-865.

doi: 10.1002/dvdy.74. Epub 2019 Jul 1.

Affiliations

Free article

Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in the developing avian retina

José Antonio de Mera-Rodríguez et al. Dev Dyn. 2019 Sep.

Free article

Abstract

Background: Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) histochemistry is the most commonly used biomarker of cellular senescence. These SA-β-GAL-positive cells are senescent embryonic cells that are usually removed by apoptosis from the embryo, followed by macrophage-mediated clearance.

Results: Some authors have proposed that SA-β-GAL activity in differentiated neurons from young and adult mammals cannot be uniquely attributed to cell senescence, whether in vivo or in vitro. Using the developing visual system of the chicken as a model, the present study found that SA-β-GAL detected in the developing retina corresponded to lysosomal β-galactosidase activity, and that SA-β-GAL activity did not correlate with the chronotopographical distribution of apoptotic cells. However, SA-β-GAL staining in the undifferentiated retina coincided with the appearance of early differentiating neurons. In the laminated retina, SA-β-GAL staining was concentrated in the ganglion, amacrine, and horizontal cell layers. The photoreceptors and pigment epithelial cells also exhibited SA-β-GAL activity throughout retinal development. We have also found that SA-β-GAL staining strongly correlated p21 immunoreactivity.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the results clearly show that SA-β-GAL activity cannot be regarded as a specific marker of senescence during retinal development, and that it is mainly expressed in subpopulations of postmitotic neurons, which are nonproliferative cells, even at early stages of cell differentiation.

Keywords: apoptosis; cell differentiation; chicken embryo; retina; senescence; senescence-associated β-galactosidase.

© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Hayflick L. The limited in vitro lifetime of human diploid cell strains. Exp Cell Res. 1965;37:614-636.
    1. Campisi J. Senescent cells, tumor suppression, and organismal aging: good citizens, bad Neighbors. Cell. 2005;120:513-522.
    1. Rodier F, Campisi J. Four faces of cellular senescence. J Cell Biol. 2011;192:547-556.
    1. Gil J, Peters G. Regulation of the INK4b-ARF-INK4a tumour suppressor locus: all for one or one for all. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2006;7:667-677.
    1. Kim WY, Sharpless NE. The regulation of INK4/ARF in cancer and aging. Cell. 2006;127:265-275.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources