Mitochondrial metabolism and epigenetic crosstalk drive SASP.

Mitochondrial metabolism may regulate inflammation in senescent cells, but the implications for human health remain uncertain.

Summary and findings

This study investigates the role of mitochondrial metabolism in the regulation of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in senescent cells. It reports that enhancing acetyl-CoA levels promotes SASP gene expression, while inhibition of SLC25A1 limits this activity. The findings suggest a mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint that influences inflammation in aged mice.

Abstract

Senescent cells promote tissue dysfunction in part through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)1. Cytosolic mitochondrial nucleic acids activate innate immune signalling to initiate this inflammatory programme2,3. Here we show that mitochondrial metabolism provides a second layer of control that enables execution of the inflammatory programme. In senescent cells, the mitochondrial pyruvate-citrate-acetyl-CoA axis is upregulated, increasing the availability of acetyl-CoA to support histone acetylation at SASP genes. Whereas mitochondrial DNA-driven signalling activates inflammatory transcription factors, acetyl-CoA availability is required for robust transcription of SASP genes. Accordingly, enhancing acetyl-CoA levels promotes SASP gene expression, whereas inhibition of SLC25A1, the mitochondrial citrate exporter, reduces histone acetylation at SASP loci, limiting activity of this programme. In vivo, inhibition of SLC25A1 reduces chromatin accessibility at SASP loci, dampens inflammation and improves healthspan in aged mice. Together, these findings identify a mitochondrial metabolic checkpoint that enables the epigenetic execution of innate immune signalling, revealing a mechanism that selectively controls the inflammatory output of senescent cells.

Limitations

Not reported in abstract.

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