Ashley Watson

Stem Cell & Neurobiology Scientist in the Developmental and Cognitive Genomics Research Group

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

In 2013, two papers showed that cellular senescence isn't just a hallmark of aging but it also happens during normal embryonic development.

Over a decade later, we're still figuring out what these cells are doing.

Our new paper tackles that question in the developing brain. 🧵

[Aging Science News @AgingBiology]

Persistent and transient senescent cells contribute to brain-barrier development
https://t.co/qpjY7CbI19

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Happy to answer any questions about developmental senescence, brain barriers, and the paper!

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

In 2013, two papers showed that cellular senescence isn't just a hallmark of aging but it also happens during normal embryonic development.

Over a decade later, we're still figuring out what these cells are doing.

Our new paper tackles that question in the developing brain. 🧵

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Excited to share! Thanks to the team who helped make it happen! @HiruyMeharena
https://t.co/Y3du1Ae7ht
#neuroscience #senescence #brainbarrier #choroidplexus #BBB #development

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

This work left us thinking about senescence a little differently.

Maybe the question isn't whether senescence is good or bad, but how it's being used.

Different cell types may be adapting senescence to meet very different physiological demands.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Senescent cells are often viewed through the lens of aging and disease.

But if some senescent states serve normal physiological functions, understanding those functions may be critical for interpreting and eventually targeting senescence in disease.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Why might that be?

Unlike most epitheliail cells, choroid plexus epithelial cells are long-lived, non-dividing, and remain under continuous physiological demand throughout life.

Their biology may be particularly well suited to a persistent senescent state.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Choroid plexus epithelial cells were the exception.

They entered a senescent state during embryonic development and never seem to leave it.

Even in adulthood, these cells retained many of the same senescence markers.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

Embryonic senescence was originally described as a transient developmental program.

But these cells enter that state before birth and maintain it throughout life.

This may be the first example of lifelong physiological senescence in a somatic cell population.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

But these cells don't use senescence in the same way.

Endothelial cells and brain-resident macrophages engage senescence-associated programs transiently during barrier formation and then largely resolve them.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

We found senescence-associated programs in major cellular components of the brain's barriers:

• Choroid plexus epithelial cells
• Endothelial cells
• Brain-resident macrophages

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

The brain is protected by specialized barriers that control what moves between the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and neural tissue.

We know a lot about the pathways that build these barriers. What surprised us was how often those pathways overlapped with cellular senescence.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@MatBVictor @IcahnMountSinai @SinaiBrain Congrats! 🎉

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@MoeNeuro Wow!!! 🤩 that office is incredible! Can’t wait to see how you make it your own

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@MoeNeuro Congrats Monique!!!! Soooo well deserved! 🎉 🍾 🥂

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@MoeNeuro @UCSDCompassion You’re amazing!! Congrats! 🍾🙌

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@MoeNeuro I feel so strongly about this. Asking female PIs to wait until tenure to start a family became illegal pretty recently. But the mindset lingers. There is a push for diverse voices in academia but not much is being done to support female (and other) scientists with parental leave.

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

🧬Unlocking the Mysteries of #Downsyndrome!🧠 Excited to share our review that dives deep into the neurological features of DS and the power of human #stemcell models, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms underlying DS. @HiruyMeharena https://t.co/cRazXvgzAL

[Hiruy Meharena @HiruyMeharena]

Please help us recruit by re-tweeting if you think anyone in your network would be interested!

[Ashley Watson @lashleywatson]

@BKleinstiver @russelltwalton @RachelSilvers11 @katieachristie Amazing! And very well-deserved. Congrats Ben and the Kleinstiver lab!!!