Probing Membrane Contact Sites as Drivers of Senescence-Associated Inflammation
Dr. Joe Nassour’s lab investigates how senescent cells activate the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), a pro-inflammatory program that drives tissue dysfunction and fuels chronic inflammation underlying many age-related diseases. The lab focuses on how senescent cells reorganize organelle architecture to form specialized lysosome–Golgi membrane contact sites, which function as hubs for assembling signaling complexes required for NF-κB activation and SASP induction. The team integrates CRISPR-based genetic screens and optogenetic tools to map and manipulate these contact sites in aged cells, aiming to uncover how organelle organization coordinates innate immune signaling. Ultimately, their work seeks to advance organelle-targeted senomorphic therapies that dampen chronic inflammation and support healthy aging.
