Key RNA discovered in cellular aging that could open new avenues against cancer

A team from Cima, University of Navarra, has identified an RNA that plays a key role in metabolic regulation during cellular senescence. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports , opens new avenues for therapies against cancer and aging.

Senescence is a process in which cells stop dividing when faced with different types of stress, such as chemotherapy treatments, DNA damage, or telomere shortening, among others, but they do not die, entering a state of "rest" or cell cycle arrest. This process, although it does not imply cell death, can have consequences for the body, contributing to aging and the onset of disease.

These damaged cells remain active and can participate in various processes such as tumor progression or aging, so it is essential to understand their regulatory mechanisms.

"We have identified a long non-coding RNA, which we call sin-lncRNA, that is specifically activated in different types of senescence, such as that caused by oncogenes or chemotherapy with cisplatin. In this study, we analyzed its mechanisms and confirmed that silencing it changes the expression levels of genes linked to energy metabolism," explain Maite Huarte and Marta Montes , co-directors of the study.

According to the authors, these findings have important implications in the context of cancer. "We have shown that inhibiting this RNA in ovarian cancer cells decreases oxygen consumption , which sensitizes the cells to treatment with the drug cisplatin. Therefore, our study suggests that sin-lncRNA could be a target to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy."

This work provides evidence that sin-lncRNA is a specific regulator of metabolic balance in senescent cells. It also opens new prospects for the development of strategies that combine senescence induction with senescent cell elimination, particularly in cancer treatment and the study of aging.

"Our results contribute to a better understanding of how senescent cells, despite their lower proliferative potential, maintain active metabolic activity adapted to their state. They also highlight the fundamental role of lncRNAs in the regulation of complex cellular processes," the CIMA scientists conclude.