MicroRNAs as a novel cellular senescence regulator

Cellular senescence is a program activated in normal cells in response to various types of stresses and is manifested by permanent arrest of cell cycle. Cellular senescence is closely related to tumor suppression, and may contribute to the ageing of organisms. The complex senescence cell phenotype has many different mechanisms. Recent studies have provided important insights regarding the role played by miRNAs during cellular senescence as a novel molecular mechanism. In this article, we will review the latest advances in the identification and validation of senescence-regulatory miRNAs and the possible mechanisms. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.