Nattaphong RattanavirotkulKristina KirschnerTamir ChandraThe University of EdinburghMahidol UniversityUniversity of Glasgow2020-10-052020-10-052020-01-01Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. (2020)142090711420682X2-s2.0-85091118777https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/59003© 2020, The Author(s). Senescence is a cellular stress response triggered by diverse stressors, including oncogene activation, where it serves as a bona-fide tumour suppressor mechanism. Senescence can be transmitted to neighbouring cells, known as paracrine secondary senescence. Secondary senescence was initially described as a paracrine mechanism, but recent evidence suggests a more complex scenario involving juxtacrine communication between cells. In addition, single-cell studies described differences between primary and secondary senescent end-points, which have thus far not been considered functionally distinct. Here we discuss emerging concepts in senescence transmission and heterogeneity in primary and secondary senescence on a cellular and organ level.Mahidol UniversityBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyNeurosciencePharmacology, Toxicology and PharmaceuticsReviewSCOPUS10.1007/s00018-020-03638-0