ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infection of the respiratory system can evolve to a multi-system disease. Excessive levels of proinflammatory cytokines, known as a "cytokine storm" are associated with high mortality rates especially in the elderly and in patients with age-related morbidities. Senescent cells, characterized by secretion of such cytokines (Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype - SASP), are known to occur in this context as well as upon a variety of stressogenic insults. Applying both: i) a novel "in house" antibody against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and ii) a unique senescence detecting methodology, we identified for the first time in lung tissue from COVID-19 patients alveolar cells acquiring senescent features harboring also SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, using the same detection workflow we demonstrated the inflammatory properties of these cells. Our findings justify the application of senotherapeutics for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 patients.