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Published on: February 3, 2017
Autophagy in Cardiovascular Aging
Mahmoud Abdellatif1, Simon Sedej1,2, Didac Carmona-Gutierrez2,3
1From the Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Austria (M.A., S.S.).
Insights
Autophagy, an intracellular recycling system, is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health in aging populations. Interventions like caloric restriction and certain drugs can enhance autophagy, offering promising cardioprotective benefits for longevity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Cellular Biology and Aging Research
Background:
- Aging societies face increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.
- Age-related decline affects heart structure and circulatory function.
- Longevity pathways offer potential targets for cardiovascular health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of longevity pathways in cardiovascular health.
- To explore interventions targeting autophagy for age-related cardiovascular issues.
- To highlight the therapeutic potential of autophagy in aging.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic models impacting autophagy and cardiovascular aging.
- Analysis of pharmacological interventions that modulate autophagy.
- Evaluation of dietary strategies, including caloric restriction and mimetics, affecting autophagy.
Main Results:
- Autophagy, an intracellular catabolic recycling system, is linked to extended health- and life-span.
- Caloric restriction and its mimetics (metformin, spermidine, rapamycin) activate autophagy.
- These interventions show promise in combating age-related cardiovascular deterioration.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy is fundamental for maintaining cardiac and vascular health during aging.
- Modulating autophagy presents a significant therapeutic avenue for cardiovascular health in aging individuals.
- Further research into autophagy's therapeutic importance is warranted.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases are the most prominent maladies in aging societies. Indeed, aging promotes the structural and functional declines of both the heart and the blood circulation system. In this review, we revise the contribution of known longevity pathways to cardiovascular health and delineate the possibilities to interfere with them. In particular, we evaluate autophagy, the intracellular catabolic recycling system associated with life- and health-span extension. We present genetic models, pharmacological interventions, and dietary strategies that block, reduce, or enhance autophagy upon age-related cardiovascular deterioration. Caloric restriction or caloric restriction mimetics like metformin, spermidine, and rapamycin (all of which trigger autophagy) are among the most promising cardioprotective interventions during aging. We conclude that autophagy is a fundamental process to ensure cardiac and vascular health during aging and outline its putative therapeutic importance.
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