Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells

We observed that the clustering of NK cells on senescent renal epithelial cells could be used to detect senescence-triggered NK cell activation. Also, we found that NKG2D signaling and perforin-dependent lysis of senescent renal epithelial cells were crucial steps in the lysis of senescent cells. In addition, NK cell-mediated attack of senescent renal epithelial cells could be dampened by the addition of cyclosporine A and was augmented by the addition of interleukin 7. Together, these data show that NK cells can efficiently mediate the clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells involving NK cell activation by NKG2D signaling.