Fig. 7: Schematic diagram of senescent cell induction of Macrophage-Myofibroblast Transition (MMT), which may result in tissue fibrosis.

We identified a critical role for macrophages in giving rise to myofibroblasts, contributing to interstitial fibrosis in RAS through mesenchymal transition (MMT). This process appears to be mediated, at least in part, by senescent cell-derived IFITM3, which promotes ITGB3 expression and activates the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway.