Ziv Porat
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, ISRAEL
Title: Quantitative identification of senescent cells in aging and Disease by Imaging Flow Cytometry
Biography
Biography: Ziv Porat
Abstract
Senescent cells are present in premalignant lesions and sites of tissue damage, and accumulate in tissues with age. In-vivo identification, quantification and characterization of senescent cells are challenging tasks that limit our understanding of the role of senescent cells in diseases and aging. Here we present a new way to precisely quantify and identify senescent cells in tissues on a single-cell basis. The method combines a senescence-associated beta-galactosidase assay with staining of molecular markers for cellular senescence and of cellular identity. By utilizing Imaging Flow Cytometry, which combines flow cytometry with high-content image analysis, we were able to quantify senescent cells in tumors, fibrotic tissues, and tissues of aged mice. Our approach also yielded the finding that senescent cells in tissues of aged mice are larger than non-senescent cells. This method provides a basis for quantitative assessment of senescent cell impact on pathologies and aging.