Prospects for cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in the comprehensive evaluation of cellular senescence markers

In modern pathophysiology and clinical medicine, the search for new, more reliable cellular and molecular biomarkers remains a pressing issue, enabling the assessment of premature aging processes and predicting the risk or severity of many diseases. DNA damage, manifested in particular as micronuclei, is a key factor in initiating the aging process, as it reflects genomic instability. The loss of genomic stability due to physical, chemical, and biological genotoxic factors can lead not only to premature aging of the organism but also to chronic inflammation and the development of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions. Furthermore, studying genomic instability in stem cells is crucial for the development of cellular therapies aimed at slowing aging and treating related diseases. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) is proposed as a tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms linking DNA damage with cellular senescence and aging outcomes at the organismal level. This method provides a range of quantitative indicators for a comprehensive assessment of cellular senescence manifestations, which can be utilized as potential biomarkers for disease risk evaluation and monitoring of disease progression, including as a marker of high cardiovascular risk in patients who have experienced acute cardiac conditions.