Aging
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Research Perspective|Volume 4, Issue 3|pp 159—165

Cell cycle arrest is not yet senescence, which is not just cell cycle arrest: terminology for TOR-driven aging

Mikhail V. Blagosklonny1
  • 1Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, BLSC, L3-312, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
Received: February 17, 2012Accepted: March 5, 2012Published: March 5, 2012

Abstract

Cell cycle arrest is not yet senescence. When the cell cycle is arrested, an inappropriate growth-promotion converts an arrest into senescence (geroconversion). By inhibiting the growth-promoting mTOR pathway, rapamycin decelerates geroconversion of the arrested cells. And as a striking example, while causing arrest, p53 may decelerate or suppress geroconversion (in some conditions). Here I discuss the meaning of geroconversion and also the terms gerogenes, gerossuppressors, gerosuppressants, gerogenic pathways, gero-promoters, hyperfunction and feedback resistance, regenerative potential, hypertrophy and secondary atrophy, pro-gerogenic and gerogenic cells.