Modeling the Aging Human Lung: Generation of a Senescent Human Lung Organoid Culture System.

Introduction: The aging lung enters into a state of irreversible cellular growth arrest characterized by senescence. While senescence is beneficial in preventing oncogenic cell proliferation, it becomes detrimental when persistent, promoting chronic inflammation and fibrosis through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Such senescence-related pathophysiological processes play key roles in lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).