RNA-seq for primary human bronchial epithelial cells, proliferating versus doxorubicin-induced senescence.

Epithelial senescence, specifically in the bronchiolized regions of the fibrotic lung, is apparent in IPF but not control tissue. In order to better understand the phenotype of these senescent cells we generated a in vitro culture model of senescence utillizing primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Cultures were treated with doxorubicin to induce senescence and the transcriptional phenotype of the senescent cultures was compared to DMSO-treated control cultures. Overall design: Primary human bronchial epithelial cells in culture were treated with DMSO, as a control, or doxorubicin (500nM) for a total of 5 days. RNA was then harvested and RNA-seq was performed to reveal the transcriptional profile enacted in senescent cells.