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Age-related vascular stiffening: causes and consequences
Julie C Kohn1, Marsha C Lampi1, Cynthia A Reinhart-King1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA.
Frontiers in Genetics
|May 1, 2015
Summary
Age-related arterial stiffening impacts cardiovascular health by affecting both whole vessels and cellular function. Targeting arterial stiffness is crucial for preventing heart failure and atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cellular Mechanics
Background:
- Arterial stiffening, a hallmark of aging, is linked to cardiovascular disease progression and heart failure.
- Beyond macroscale effects, arterial stiffening causes microscale cellular dysfunction.
- Altered extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture is a key factor in the pre-atherogenic state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss age-related arterial stiffening causes and measurement methods.
- To review how arterial stiffness and ECM changes contribute to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
- To highlight the mechanosensitivity of endothelial cells to arterial stiffening.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical (e.g., pulse wave velocity) and research-based microscale measurements of arterial stiffness.
- Analysis of age-related ECM protein crosslinking and deposition.
- Investigation of endothelial cell responses to altered arterial mechanics.
Main Results:
- Age-related stiffening involves ECM protein crosslinking and increased deposition.
- Arterial stiffness and ECM changes contribute to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
- Endothelial cells are mechanosensitive to arterial stiffening, impacting their health.
Conclusions:
- Arterial stiffening is a critical clinical target due to its effects on the heart and cellular dysfunction.
- ECM alterations in stiffened arteries promote atherosclerosis.
- Understanding endothelial cell mechanosensitivity offers new therapeutic avenues.
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