In recent years, attention has focused on the accumulation of senescent cells following kidney injury; however, the mechanisms inducing these cells and their specific roles remain insufficiently understood. Phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) is induced in injured kidneys in vivo, and in vitro studies have demonstrated that p-p38 promotes cellular senescence in cultured cells. However, the role of p-p38 in cellular senescence induction in vivo and in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been fully elucidated.
Iwashige et al. (Wed,) studied this question.