PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest associated with macromolecular damage and
secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which includes cytokines, chemokines, and
growth factors. The SASP provides immune surveillance that recruits immune cells to clear senescent cells;
however, persistent senescence or enduring SASP production that exceeds immune clearance aggravates
inflammatory injuries. Ageing is a major driver of tissue senescence. Age-related accumulation of cellular
senescence is a major pathogenic factor responsible for the decline of tissue function and the increase in age-
related pathologies, but little is known about the molecular mechanism that drives tissue senescence. On the
other hand, age-unrelated senescence and its pathophysiological impact are understudied. For example, very
little is known about metabolic control of colonic senescence, its molecular mechanism and pathophysiological
consequences. Our goal is to tackle these questions and fill the knowledge gaps. Our preliminary studies
demonstrated that colon epithelial acetyl-CoA deficiency triggers robust p53-dependent colonic senescence,
and the accompanying SASP induces severe mucosal and systemic inflammation leading to premature death
in mice. Further investigation revealed that epithelial senescence and SASP are closely associated with
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in both mouse colitis models and human patients. We also discovered that
gut microbe-derived acetate helps maintain host's epithelial acetyl-CoA pool to prevent colonic senescence.
Our data suggest that the acetyl-CoA status of colonic epithelial cells is determined by host ATP-citrate lyase
(Acly), acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (Acss2) and microbe-derived acetate; as such, gut dysbiosis, in the presence
of Acly and Acss2 down-regulation, leads to acetyl-CoA deficiency that triggers colonic senescence. Our
findings shed new lights on the development of age-unrelated colonic senescence and its pathogenic
connection to mucosal inflammation and colitis, and suggest that colonic senescence presents a novel
therapeutic target for IBD. To extend this investigation, we propose three Aims. In Aim 1 we will assess the
effect of acetyl-CoA deficiency in intestinal stem cells on colonic homeostasis. In Aim 2 we will elucidate the
molecular mechanism whereby nuclear/cytosolic acetyl-CoA deficiency triggers colonic senescence. In Aim 3
we will explore colonic senescence as a pathogenic driver as well as a novel therapeutic target of IBD. There
are vast knowledge gaps about age-unrelated colonic senescence and its pathological effects. There are huge
unmet needs for IBD therapy. This project will provide new mechanistic insights into metabolic control of
colonic senescence, and unveil the critical roles of acetyl-CoA and microbe-derived acetate in the regulation of
colonic senescence. For translational value, this project will uncover the link of colonic senescence to IBD
pathogenesis and prove senescence not only as a novel biomarker of IBD but also as potential therapeutic
target for IBD management.
