Cellular Senescence in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Mechanisms and Treatments

Cellular senescence refers to a state of stable and essentially irreversible cell cycle arrest, accompanied by extensive changes in cellular secretory activity. Senescent cells accumulate within tissues during physiological aging and in response to various forms of cellular stress or injury. While transient senescence is essential for processes such as embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and tumor suppression, the persistent retention of senescent cells has been increasingly recognized as a key driver of aging and age-related diseases. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a prevalent chronic complication of diabetes, is characterized by accelerated renal cellular senescence and progressive accumulation of senescent cells, both of which contribute to structural damage and functional deterioration of the kidney. These observations have positioned cellular senescence as a promising therapeutic target for slowing the onset and progression of DKD. This review summarizes the fundamental characteristics and major classifications of cellular senescence; discusses its physiological and pathological functions, together with the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms; examines the role of senescence in renal cell injury during DKD progression, and highlights recent advances in senescence-targeted therapeutic strategies for DKD.