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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
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Isolation and Functional Analysis of Arteriolar Endothelium of Mouse Brain Parenchyma
Published on: March 11, 2022
Cellular Heterogeneity During Arterial Aging
He Xu1, Paul-Lennard Mendez1,2,3, Dimitri Kasakovski1,4
1Department of Pathology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Aging Cell
|June 23, 2026
Summary
Arterial aging, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, involves cellular changes like senescence and inflammation. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals these age-related vascular alterations across different cell types.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Aging Research
- Cardiovascular Disease
Background:
- Arterial aging contributes to cardiovascular disease through structural and functional changes.
- Key aging hallmarks include arterial stiffening, inflammation, and senescence.
- Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers insights into arterial wall cellular heterogeneity during aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current scRNA-seq studies on arterial aging.
- To identify key cellular phenotypes and programs in aged arteries.
- To discuss cell-intrinsic and intercellular communication changes in vascular aging.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of single-cell RNA sequencing studies on arterial aging.
- Focus on phenotypic programs: senescence, matrix remodeling, inflammaging, and communication.
- Analysis of age-related changes in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells.
Main Results:
- Aging is linked to endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle cell modulation, fibroblast matrix remodeling, and immune activation.
- Cellular changes vary by species, vascular bed, sex, and disease context.
- Vascular aging involves cell-intrinsic changes and altered intercellular communication networks.
Conclusions:
- scRNA-seq has advanced understanding of arterial aging's cellular basis.
- Limitations include inconsistent annotations, incomplete validation, and limited spatial/epigenetic data.
- Future research integrating multi-omics and functional studies is crucial for translational relevance.
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