Eldsejtek

Eldsejtek is a term used in Hungarian biomedical literature to refer to cellular senescence, a state in which cells permanently stop dividing in response to various forms of stress, such as DNA damage, telomere shortening, or oncogene activation. The concept recognizes that some cells acquire a stable growth arrest while remaining metabolically active and influential through secreted factors and altered signaling.

Key characteristics of eldsejtek include permanent cell-cycle arrest, resistance to programmed cell death, and a distinct metabolic and secretory profile known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP comprises inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteases that can influence neighboring cells and tissue structure. Common molecular markers used to identify eldsejtek in research and diagnostics include upregulation of p16INK4a and p21, presence of DNA damage foci, and activity of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase.

Biological and clinical significance is complex. Eldsejtek formation contributes to tumor suppression by halting the proliferation of damaged cells, but the accumulation of senescent cells with age is linked to tissue dysfunction and several age-related diseases. In experimental and therapeutic contexts, researchers study strategies to detect, modulate, or remove these cells to mitigate adverse aging effects.

Detection methods include histochemical staining for SA-β-gal, immunostaining for senescence markers, and profiling of SASP components. Therapeutic research explores senolytics, agents that selectively clear eldsejtek, and senomorphics, which modulate SASP without eliminating the cells. The terminology varies across sources, with eldsejtek one of several Hungarian translations for senescent cells.