Cellular Senescence and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies from a New Perspective
December 2025
in “
Annals of Medicine
”
cellular senescence polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS replicative senescence stress-induced premature senescence immunoinflammatory responses cell cycle arrest oxidative stress DNA damage follicular development senolytic drugs senomorphic drugs hyperandrogenic insulin-resistant senescence anti-senescence therapies
TLDR Targeting senescent cells may offer new treatments for PCOS.
This review examines the connection between cellular senescence and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on how mechanisms like oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) contribute to PCOS pathogenesis. It highlights the role of senescence in impairing follicular development and exacerbating inflammation, particularly in obese, hyperandrogenic, or insulin-resistant patients. The document discusses potential therapeutic strategies, including senolytic and senomorphic drugs, which target senescent cells to improve ovarian function and metabolic disturbances. However, challenges remain in translating these findings into clinical practice due to the heterogeneity of PCOS phenotypes and the need for further research to validate these therapies.
