Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

A Standardized Method for the Analysis of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Their Fenestrations by Scanning Electron Microscopy
08:38

A Standardized Method for the Analysis of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Their Fenestrations by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: April 30, 2015

Hepatic pseudocapillarisation and atherosclerosis in ageing

David G Le Couteur1, Robin Fraser, Victoria C Cogger

  • 1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, and Anzac Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord RG Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. dlecouteur@med.usyd.edu.au

Lancet (London, England)
|June 6, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Ageing impairs the liver

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death, with aging as a primary risk factor.
  • Atherosclerosis underlies much of this age-related CVD.
  • Current understanding lacks a direct link between liver aging and atherosclerosis pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel hypothesis linking age-related liver structural changes to atherosclerosis.
  • To elucidate the role of liver sinusoidal endothelium fenestrations in this process.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on liver aging and atherosclerosis.
  • Hypothetical model development based on established pathogenic mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Age-related pseudocapillarisation of liver sinusoidal endothelium involves endothelial thickening, basement membrane formation, and fenestration loss (defenestration).
  • This defenestration impairs the liver sieve function, hindering chylomicron remnant clearance.
  • Impaired clearance leads to postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, a known contributor to atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • Age-induced loss of liver fenestrations directly contributes to atherosclerosis development.
  • Maintaining or restoring liver fenestrations may offer a new therapeutic strategy for age-related CVD.
  • Targeting liver sieve permeability could mitigate cardiovascular risk in the elderly.

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