Projects

Therapeutic Targeting of Senescent Cells in Lupus

Given our earlier observations that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow aspirates of patients with SLE have a senescence-like phenotype, we believe that senescent cells are increased in SLE target tissues, that these cells play an important role in promoting organ failure, and tissue inflammation, and that targeting senescent cells can improve tissue regenerative capacity and clinical outcomes in SLE. Current efforts are now focused on evaluating accumulations of bone marrow MSC in lupus patients and MZB/W mice and determining if they can be targeted by senolytic drugs that have been successfully used in animal models of aging.