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Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
08:41

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2019

Endothelin-1, aging and hypertension

Brian L Stauffer1, Christian M Westby, Christopher A DeSouza

  • 1Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

Current Opinion in Cardiology
|June 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Endothelin-1 system activation contributes to cardiovascular disease in aging and hypertension. While drugs have limited success, regular aerobic exercise effectively reduces endothelin-1 activity, improving vascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Aging Research
  • Hypertension Studies

Background:

  • Endothelin-1 system activation is implicated in atherosclerotic vascular disease.
  • Aging and hypertension are independent risk factors associated with increased endothelin-1 activity.
  • Endothelial dysfunction, including vasomotor dysregulation, contributes to cardiovascular complications in aging and hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the cardiovascular effects of the endothelin system.
  • To examine the relationship between the endothelin system, aging, and hypertension.
  • To discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting the endothelin system.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on endothelin-1, aging, hypertension, and cardiovascular effects.
  • Analysis of studies on endothelial function, nitric oxide, and vasoconstrictor tone.
  • Evaluation of pharmacological and exercise-based interventions.

Main Results:

  • Endothelin-1-mediated vasoconstrictor tone increases with age and contributes to hypertension.
  • Pharmacological approaches to inhibit endothelin-1 have shown limited and disease-specific efficacy.
  • Regular aerobic exercise is highly effective in reducing endothelin-1 system activity.

Conclusions:

  • Increased endothelin-1 vasoconstrictor tone is a hallmark of aging and hypertension.
  • Further research is needed to identify effective pharmacological treatments for reducing endothelin-1 activity in older hypertensive individuals.
  • Aerobic exercise remains a crucial intervention for maintaining and improving vascular health by modulating the endothelin system.
Abstract

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