CDKN2A and osteoarthritis: In initial studies exploring the role of senescence in age-associated abnormalities, mice that had undergone clearance of p16-expressing cells had an increased lifespan and delayed onset of age-related diseases.139,140 When a similar inducible p16-clearance model was used in osteoarthritic mice, the development of osteoarthritis was attenuated and cartilage repair and development increased.108 Senolytics typically induce preferential or ideally selective apoptosis of SnCs via targeting pro-survival signals and pathways that are activated in SnCs but not healthy cells (Fig. 4a).