This study reveals that cigarette smoke-induced cellular senescence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked to impaired mitophagy due to reduced Parkin translocation, driven by cytoplasmic p53 accumulation, and demonstrates that restoring mitophagy can delay senescence, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for chronic airway diseases. The gene discussed is PRKN; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.