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Review Article

Current Understanding of p53-Dependent Cellular Senescence in Health Disparities: Molecular Insights and Public-Health Strategies

Authors

  • Deborah Pelumi Fadipe Cell Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    deborahfadipe90@gmail.com

  • Oluwapelumi Hannah Sonoiki Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA
  • Loveth Chinwendu Iwuala Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2350-8702
  • Chinemerem David Akujuobi Department of Radiography and Radiation Science, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
  • Confidence Nkechineyerem Chikezie Health Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2233-4652
  • Chinedu George Ezeah Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6719-4464

Abstract

Disadvantaged populations age faster and develop chronic disease earlier, but the molecular conduit from social adversity to biology is not fully defined. This review synthesizes molecular, epidemiological, and policy evidence along a single axis: p53-governed cellular senescence. Genomic and metabolic stress stabilize p53, induce p21-mediated cell cycle arrest, and trigger a pro-inflammatory secretory program that compromises tissue function. Conditions concentrated in communities with limited resources, such as, air pollution, ultra-processed diets, chronic stress, and obesity activate these pathways and expand senescent populations in vascular, metabolic, and immune tissues, amplifying atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and cancer progression. Senolytics (dasatinib plus quercetin, navitoclax, and fisetin) and senomorphics (metformin and rapamycin) show early benefit signals, but translation must be equity-first. The next step is to conduct community-engaged, cluster-randomized pilots that pair senotherapeutics with neighborhood exposure abatement, use co-primary endpoints (multi-omic senescence signatures plus exposure indices), stratify by deprivation, apply adaptive dosing, and track affordability and access, yielding decision rules for scalable, equity-ready implementation.

Keywords:

Cellular Senescence Health Disparities p53 Senescence Senolytics Senomorphic Drugs

Article information

Journal

Journal of Life Science and Public Health

Volume (Issue)

1(2), (2025)

Pages

8-17

Published

29-09-2025

How to Cite

Fadipe, D. P., Sonoiki, O. H., Iwuala, L. C., Akujuobi, C. D., Chikezie, C. N., & Ezeah, C. G. (2025). Current Understanding of p53-Dependent Cellular Senescence in Health Disparities: Molecular Insights and Public-Health Strategies. Journal of Life Science and Public Health, 1(2), 8-17. https://doi.org/10.69739/jlsph.v1i2.813

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