Normal cells after a defined number of successive divisions or after exposure to genotoxic stresses are becoming senescent, characterized by a permanent growth arrest. In addition, they secrete increased levels of pro-inflammatory and catabolic mediators, collectively termed “senescence-associated secretory phenotype”. Furthermore, senescent cells exhibit an altered expression and organization of many extracellular matrix components, leading to specific remodeling of their microenvironment. In this review we present the current knowledge on extracellular matrix alterations associated with cellular senescence and critically discuss certain characteristic examples, highlighting the ambiguous role of senescent cells in the homeostasis of various tissues under both normal and pathologic conditions.

经过一定数量的连续分裂后或暴露于遗传毒性应激后，正常细胞开始衰老，其特征是永久性的生长停滞。此外，它们分泌促炎和分解代谢介质的水平升高，统称为“衰老相关的分泌表型”。此外，衰老细胞表现出许多细胞外基质成分的表达和组织改变，从而导致其微环境的特定重塑。在这篇综述中，我们介绍了与细胞衰老相关的细胞外基质改变的最新知识，并批判性地讨论了某些特征性例子，突出了衰老细胞在正常和病理条件下在各种组织体内稳态中的模棱两可的作用。