Benzyl isothiocyanate provokes senolysis by targeting AKT in senescent IPF fibroblasts and reverses persistent pulmonary fibrosis in aged mice.

Introduction: Senescent cells (SCs) accumulate with age and play a causative role in age-related diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Clearance of SCs attenuates lung fibrogenesis and favors fibrosis resolution, suggesting that targeting of SCs is recognized as a promising therapeutic approach for IPF. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are natural compounds with anticancer and anti-aging properties, but their role in IPF remains unclear. The aim of our study to investigate whether benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a type of ITCs, can act as a senolytic agent thereby attenuating pulmonary fibrosis in aged mice. Methods: Primary lung fibroblasts from IPF patients and controls were cultured and treated with various ITCs to identify potential senolytic agents. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, Cell viability assays, Annexin V/PI double staining, Caspase 3 activity assay, Western blot analysis, and qPCR were performed to evaluate senescence markers, cell viability, and apoptosis-related proteins after BITC treatment of senescent IPF lung fibroblasts Results: Using senescent IPF fibroblasts, we screened and identified BITC as a potent senolytic drug. We show that BITC selectively induces apoptosis in senescent IPF fibroblasts by targeting AKT signal pathway. Intraperitoneal administration of BITC to an age-related lung fibrosis mouse model effectively depleted senescent lung fibroblasts and reversed persistent pulmonary fibrosis. Discussion: Our study reveals that BITC may be a promising therapeutic option for IPF and other age-related disease that progress with the accumulation of senescent fibroblasts.