Aged female mice have higher baseline levels of senescence-associated inflammatory markers, including IL1α, and exhibit a greater reduction in these markers following p16-positive cell clearance compared to aged male mice, demonstrating sex-specific differences in the inflammatory burden of senescent cells.

In older female mice, more damaged cells build up in tissues like the liver because their immune system clears them less effectively and their cells are more likely to enter a damaged, inflammatory state. These damaged cells release chemicals that cause chronic inflammation and tissue harm. When these damaged cells are removed, the inflammation drops sharply in females, and their tissues recover function, while males show little change because they have fewer of these cells to begin with.