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Updated: Sep 10, 2025
07:46
Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000
Published on: October 15, 2010
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Circulating endothelial extracellular vesicles progressively increase with age and are associated with endothelial
Christian S DeSouza1, Kelly A Stockelman1, Jamie G Hijmans1
1Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States.
Summary
Aging increases circulating endothelial cell-derived microvesicles (EMVs) in healthy men, independent of risk factors. Higher EMV levels correlate with reduced endothelial function, suggesting they are a biomarker for vascular aging.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Aging Research
- Endothelial Biology
Background:
- Aging is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Circulating extracellular vesicles, specifically endothelial cell-derived microvesicles (EMVs), are implicated in endothelial dysfunction and CVD progression.
- Age-related changes in endothelial function contribute to increased CVD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if circulating EMV levels increase with age, independent of cardiometabolic risk factors.
- To investigate the association between circulating EMVs and age-related endothelial vasodilator dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Studied 40 healthy males across three age groups (young, midlife, older).
- Measured circulating EMV concentration using flow cytometry (CD31+/42b-).
- Assessed endothelial vasodilator function via forearm blood flow (FBF) response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside infusions.
Main Results:
- Circulating EMV levels progressively increased with age (young: 54±14, midlife: 101±30, older: 132±54 EMV/μL).
- Endothelial vasodilation (FBF response to acetylcholine) was significantly reduced in midlife and older groups compared to the young group.
- EMV levels positively correlated with age (r=0.68) and inversely with endothelial vasodilation (r=-0.51 to -0.48).
Conclusions:
- Aging, independent of cardiometabolic risk factors, is associated with elevated circulating EMVs in healthy men.
- Circulating EMVs may serve as a biomarker for age-related endothelial dysfunction.
- Elevated EMVs could contribute to age-related vascular disease risk.
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