Description:

Katherine Hekman, MD, PhD

Vascular tissue derived from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) suffers from premature replicative senescence, creating a significant barrier to the advancement of organ and tissue bio-engineering. Our data support the role of mitophagy in mediating cellular senescence of iPSC-derived ECs, and renders autophagy induction a target for attenuating senescence. Overcoming this premature senescence would enable a more durable supply of patient-specific ECs for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in a wide range of disease states.