[Sorting of senescent cells by flow cytometry: Specificities and pitfalls to avoid].

Cells can be reprogrammed into senescence to adapt to a variety of stresses, most often affecting the genome integrity. Senescent cells accumulate with age or upon various insults in almost all tissues, and contribute to the development of several age-associated pathologies. Studying the molecular pathways involved in senescence induction, maintenance, or escape is challenged by the heterogeneity in the level of commitment to senescence, and by the pollution of senescent cell populations by proliferating pre- or post-senescent cells.