Mitotic centromere-associated kinase (MCAK/Kif2C) regulates cellular senescence in human primary cells through a p53-dependent pathway

► MCAK/Kif2C levels are reduced during replicative and premature cellular senescence. ► MCAK/Kif2C down-regulation induced premature senescence. ► MCAK/Kif2C up-regulation in old cells partially reversed cell senescence. ► p53 knockdown but not p16 knockdown inhibited cell senescence by MCAK/Kif2C reduction. ► MCAK/Kif2C may regulate cellular senescence of human primary cells via a p53 pathway.