Virus-Induced Cellular Senescence Causes Pulmonary Sequelae Post-Influenza Infection
07/31/2025
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes acute and long-term lung damage. Here, we used immunostaining, genetic, and pharmacological approaches to determine whether IAV-induced cellular senescence causes prolonged alterations in lungs.
Mice infected with a sublethal dose of H1N1p2009 exhibited cellular senescence, as evidenced by increased pulmonary expression of p16, p21, β-galactosidase and the DNA damage marker gamma-H2A.X. Cellular senescence began 4 days post-infection (dpi) in the bronchial epithelium, then spread to the lung parenchyma by 7 and 28 dpi (long after viral clearance), and then declined by 90 dp.
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