Here, we reported for the first time an increased expression of c-Met protein in primary cultures of human dermal and pulmonary fibroblasts of late passages. This suggests that c-Met could serve as an early marker of cellular senescence (CS). The levels of c-Met-related signaling proteins phospho-Akt and Stat3 were also increased in (pre)senescent fibroblasts. Considering the anti-apoptotic activity of Akt and the involvement of Stat3 in mediating the effects of proinflammatory cytokines, the findings of this study indicate that c-Met could contribute through its downstream targets or partners to at least two major phenotypical features of CS - resistance to apoptosis and senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
Keywords: Akt; Stat3; c-Met; cellular senescence; human dermal and pulmonary fibroblasts.