[HTML][HTML] Long-term treatment with senolytic drugs Dasatinib and Quercetin ameliorates age-dependent intervertebral disc degeneration in mice

EJ Novais, VA Tran, SN Johnston, KR Darris… - Nature …, 2021 - nature.com
EJ Novais, VA Tran, SN Johnston, KR Darris, AJ Roupas, GA Sessions, IM Shapiro…
Nature Communications, 2021nature.com
Intervertebral disc degeneration is highly prevalent within the elderly population and is a
leading cause of chronic back pain and disability. Due to the link between disc degeneration
and senescence, we explored the ability of the Dasatinib and Quercetin drug combination
(D+ Q) to prevent an age-dependent progression of disc degeneration in mice. We treated
C57BL/6 mice beginning at 6, 14, and 18 months of age, and analyzed them at 23 months of
age. Interestingly, 6-and 14-month D+ Q cohorts show lower incidences of degeneration …
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration is highly prevalent within the elderly population and is a leading cause of chronic back pain and disability. Due to the link between disc degeneration and senescence, we explored the ability of the Dasatinib and Quercetin drug combination (D + Q) to prevent an age-dependent progression of disc degeneration in mice. We treated C57BL/6 mice beginning at 6, 14, and 18 months of age, and analyzed them at 23 months of age. Interestingly, 6- and 14-month D + Q cohorts show lower incidences of degeneration, and the treatment results in a significant decrease in senescence markers p16INK4a, p19ARF, and SASP molecules IL-6 and MMP13. Treatment also preserves cell viability, phenotype, and matrix content. Although transcriptomic analysis shows disc compartment-specific effects of the treatment, cell death and cytokine response pathways are commonly modulated across tissue types. Results suggest that senolytics may provide an attractive strategy to mitigating age-dependent disc degeneration.
nature.com