β-Cell senescence in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes increases with aging, and the type 2 diabetes developing in the elderly is often accompanied by a gradual impairment of β-cell function and reduced β-cell mass along with aging. However, the contribution of β-cell senescence to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes remains uncertain. In a recent Cell Metabolism article, Aguayo-Mazzucato et al. described their efforts to identify the signatures of senescent β-cells, and explored the role(s) of senescent β-cells in type 2 diabetes.