Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with unknown etiology.Age is considered one of the most important high-risk factors.Recently, studies have found that the cells in the fibrotic lung tissues show senescence related phenotype.Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2s), with the function of secretion and regeneration, are involved in maintaining the stability of the lung environment and normal respiratory movement.Its impaired function and pre-fibrosis phenotype have been proved to contribute to the development of fibrosis.In this paper, we combined cell senescence with AEC2s, two factors which are closely related to the occurrence and development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and mainly introduced the changes in the senescent AEC2s, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, telomere shortening, metabolic abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and senescence related secretory phenotype, which promote the occurrence and development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.On this basis, we further discussed the current progress and challenges, hoping that this paper can provide useful reference for future research and clinical treatment.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Cell senescence; Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells; Anti-aging treatment