血管衰老及其机制

血管老化是一个古老而又年轻的课题.本文综述了血管衰老的主要结构特征、功能改变及其机制的新近研究进展,重点就血管基质变化、内皮细胞衰老/功能失调、内皮祖细胞衰竭以及细胞间通讯等方面进行了阐述.     

血管内皮细胞衰老与血管疾病

细胞衰老是指细胞在各种应激条件下出现周期阻滞,不可逆地丧失增殖能力,其形态、基因表达和功能都发生特定变化的过程。研究表明,血管内皮细胞衰老可以通过削弱血管功能,促进衰老相关血管疾病的发生发展。然而,有关内皮细胞衰老的发生机制以及内皮细胞衰老影响血管功能及衰老相关血管疾病的潜在机制尚待挖掘。本文从血管内皮细胞衰老相关的信号通路,以及血管内皮细胞衰老与血管功能和血管相关疾病（动脉粥样硬化、高血压和糖尿病血管并发症）的最新研究进展进行综述,为进一步认识血管疾病的发病机制,延缓血管衰老提供新的思路。     

血管衰老及心血管疾病

血管衰老是高血压、冠心病、主动脉夹层等心血管疾病的独立危险因素,而血管内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞的衰老则是血管衰老的细胞学基础.本文主要讨论了内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞衰老的形态学特征、分子标志物以及衰老的机制;阐述了单细胞测序、细胞衰老清理(senolytics)技术和遗传在血管细胞衰老及老年血管疾病诊断和治疗中的研究进展;最后,展望和探讨了通过靶向清除、药物及运动和营养等干预手段,延缓血管细胞衰老、促进血管健康,达到减少和延迟老年疾病的可能性.     

衰老巨噬细胞中IL-10激活的STAT3信号促进病理性眼球血管生成

正固有免疫系统参与调节血管生成,在发育和衰老相关疾病中至关重要。在衰老相关黄斑病变中,观察到的病理性血管新生可导致眼盲。本文作者用不同年龄和遗传背景的小鼠研究了巨噬细胞衰老相关的极化和血管新生功能,发现IL-10(白细胞介素-10)和其下游STAT3信号活性是眼睛中巨噬细胞衰老表型的调节关键。衰老小鼠眼睛中IL-10水平上升。已有的研究证明衰老导致巨噬细胞从M1向M2型转换。研究者比     

桂皮醛上调Nrf2改善衰老大鼠血管内皮功能障碍

目的:探讨桂皮醛对衰老大鼠模型血管内皮功能的影响及相关机制。方法:通过建立24月龄自然衰老的Sprague Dawley(SD)大鼠模型及第14代的衰老人脐静脉内皮细胞模型(HUVECs),以桂皮醛(10μM)进行体外干预,分别以DHE染色和DAF-2DA染色观察桂皮醛对颈动脉内膜和HUVEC中超氧阴离子、一氧化氮水平的影响。以微血管张力测定仪观察桂皮醛对乙酰胆碱诱导的颈动脉内皮依赖性舒张功能和硝酸甘油诱导的非内皮依赖性舒张功能的影响。Western blotting观察磷酸化eNOS水平及Nrf2表达。结果:桂皮醛孵育显著减少改善衰老大鼠颈动脉内膜和衰老HUVEC的ROS水平,促进HUVEC中eNOS的磷酸化,增加NO水平,改善乙酰胆碱诱导的血管内皮依赖性舒张功能,对硝酸甘油诱导的非内皮依赖性舒张功能无显著的影响;Nrf2的抑制剂鸦胆子苦醇可显著阻断桂皮醛的作用。结论:桂皮醛通过Nrf2通路减少衰老相关的ROS生成,增加NO水平从而改善衰老大鼠血管内皮依赖性舒张功能。     

增龄引起复制性衰老细胞胞内钙信号转导的变化

为了观察血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngⅡ )引起复制性衰老细胞胞内游离钙的变化以及衰老对其的影响 ,初步阐明衰老引起胞内游离钙变化的机制 .选用人胚肺二倍体成纤维细胞WI 38细胞株 ,利用逆转录PCR(RT PCR)技术及Northern杂交技术检测衰老细胞血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型受体 (AT1R)、血管紧张素Ⅱ 2型受体 (AT2R)mRNA水平的表达 ;利用激光共聚焦显微成像技术 (LSCM )观察WI 38细胞在AngⅡ刺激 ,Valsartan阻断条件下细胞内钙离子荧光强度的改变 .AngⅡ通过AT1受体介导增加WI 38细胞内游离钙的水平 ,并随着WI 38细胞传代增加至衰老状态 ,AT2受体高表达 ,AT1受体介导的钙离子信号转导的活性逐渐降低 .提示WI 38细胞衰老过程中钙离子信号的转导活性降低 ,并且AT1R和AT2R在血管紧张素Ⅱ介导的细胞内钙信号活性中具有不同的作用与机制 .为探讨WI 38衰老细胞内钙信号变化机制提供了实验依据     

细胞外基质、基质水解酶与血管钙化

血管钙化常见于动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、慢性肾功能衰竭及衰老的血管.近年来的研究证实血管钙化的发生是一种类似于生理性矿化的主动调节过程,而非单纯的钙磷的被动沉积.血管细胞外基质是血管的主要组成成分,对血管起支持、保护作用,且与血管壁细胞相互作用影响其粘附、增殖、迁移、分化等功能,同时又是各种生长因子和细胞因子的储存库.目前的研究显示,在血管钙化过程中细胞外基质的组成和表达可能发生了变化,并参与了对钙化进程的主动调节.基质水解酶可能通过基质降解依赖或非依赖的机制,在钙化的发生发展中起到重要作用.本文主要综述了在血管钙化过程中细胞外基质的变化及其对血管钙化的作用,以及基质水解酶对血管钙化过程可能的影响.     

综述: 造血干细胞衰老的研究进展

成体干细胞衰老是组织器官老化的重要原因之一.越来越多的证据显示,免疫系统的衰老起始于造血干细胞(HSC)功能的下降,即造血干细胞的衰老直接影响免疫系统的功能.然而,有关HSC衰老的机理和分子机制仍旧不清楚.在这篇综述中,我们总结了造血干细胞衰老的表型,同时从细胞内在及外在两个方面探讨论了HSC衰老的分子机制.     

造血干细胞衰老的研究进展

成体干细胞衰老是组织器官老化的重要原因之一.越来越多的证据显示,免疫系统的衰老起始于造血干细胞(HSC)功能的下降,即造血干细胞的衰老直接影响免疫系统的功能.然而,有关HSC衰老的机理和分子机制仍旧不清楚.在这篇综述中,我们总结了造血干细胞衰老的表型,同时从细胞内在及外在两个方面探讨论了HSC衰老的分子机制.     

综述: 细胞氧化还原调控与衰老

利用酵母、线虫、果蝇、小鼠等模式生物进行的研究表明,细胞的衰老过程与氧化还原紧密相关.伴随衰老,细胞内GSSG水平升高,GSH、NADPH等水平降低,而氧化还原状态变化将直接影响蛋白质的功能,特别是氧化还原敏感的含巯基蛋白质的功能,从而影响细胞信号转导和细胞命运.氧化还原失衡可能是衰老发生的重要因素.本综述将从氧化还原平衡与衰老、氧化还原调控与信号转导及衰老、氧化损伤与衰老等方面阐述细胞氧化还原调控与衰老研究的最新进展,提出并探讨氧化还原平衡的维持、氧化还原平衡的系统调控及氧化还原调控的个体化等延缓衰老及健康衰老的新策略.     

Positive crosstalk between arginase‐II and S6K1 in vascular endothelial inflammation and aging

Augmented activities of both arginase and S6K1 are involved in endothelial dysfunction in aging. This study was to investigate whether or not there is a crosstalk between arginase and S6K1 in endothelial inflammation and aging in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in aging mouse models. We show increased arginase‐II (Arg‐II) expression/activity in senescent endothelial cells. Silencing Arg‐II in senescent cells suppresses eNOS‐uncoupling, several senescence markers such as senescence‐associated‐β‐galactosidase activity, p53‐S15, p21, and expression of vascular adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM1). Conversely, overexpressing Arg‐II in nonsenescent cells promotes eNOS‐uncoupling, endothelial senescence, and enhances VCAM1/ICAM1 levels and monocyte adhesion, which are inhibited by co‐expressing superoxide dismutase‐1. Moreover, overexpressing S6K1 in nonsenescent cells increases, whereas silencing S6K1 in senescent cells decreases Arg‐II gene expression/activity through regulation of Arg‐II mRNA stability. Furthermore, S6K1 overexpression exerts the same effects as Arg‐II on endothelial senescence and inflammation responses, which are prevented by silencing Arg‐II, demonstrating a role of Arg‐II as the mediator of S6K1‐induced endothelial aging. Interestingly, mice that are deficient in Arg‐II gene (Arg‐II^?/?) are not only protected from age‐associated increase in Arg‐II, VCAM1/ICAM1, aging markers, and eNOS‐uncoupling in the aortas but also reveal a decrease in S6K1 activity. Similarly, silencing Arg‐II in senescent cells decreases S6K1 activity, demonstrating that Arg‐II also stimulates S6K1 in aging. Our study reveals a novel mechanism of mutual positive regulation between S6K1 and Arg‐II in endothelial inflammation and aging. Targeting S6K1 and/or Arg‐II may decelerate vascular aging and age‐associated cardiovascular disease development.     

Physical exercise attenuates age-associated reduction in endothelium-reparative capacity of endothelial progenitor cells by increasing CXCR4/JAK-2 signaling in healthy men

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in repairing endothelial injury. Aging is associated with EPC dysfunction. Physical exercise has a beneficial impact on EPC activity. However, whether physical exercise can enhance the endothelial repair capacity of EPCs in healthy men with aging is not clear. Here, we investigated the effects of physical exercise on reendothelialization capacity and CXC chemokine receptor four (CXCR4) signaling in human EPCs. Before and after 12-week exercise, EPCs were isolated from elderly and young men. In vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs in a mouse model of carotid artery injury were measured. The expression of CXCR4 and its downstream signaling target Janus kinase-2 (JAK-2) were determined. Before exercise, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs were significantly reduced in elderly men compared with young men. After exercise intervention, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs from elderly men were markedly enhanced. Physical exercise increased a higher CXCR4 protein expression and higher JAK-2 phosphorylation levels of EPCs. The augmentation in reendothelialization capacity of EPCs was closely correlated with the upregulation of CXCR4/JAK-2 signaling and improvement of endothelial function. This study demonstrates for the first time that physical exercise attenuates age-associated reduction in endothelium-reparative capacity of EPCs by increasing CXCR4/JAK-2 signaling. Our findings provide insight into the novel mechanisms of physical exercise as a lifestyle intervention strategy to promote vascular health in aging population.     

Aldose Reductase and AGE–RAGE pathways: central roles in the pathogenesis of vascular dysfunction in aging rats

Aging is inevitably accompanied by gradual and irreversible innate endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that accentuation of glucose metabolism via the aldose reductase (AR) pathway contributes to age‐related vascular dysfunction. AR protein and activity levels were significantly increased in aged vs. young aortic homogenates from Fischer 344 rats. Immunostaining revealed that the principal site of increased AR protein was the aortic endothelium as well as smooth muscle cells. Studies revealed that endothelial‐dependent relaxation (EDR) in response to acetylcholine was impaired in aged rats compared to young rats and that treatment with the AR inhibitor (ARI) zopolrestat significantly improved EDR in aged rats. Methylglyoxal (MG), a key precursor of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), was significantly increased in the aortas of aged rats vs. young rats. Consistent with central roles for AR in generation of MG in aging, ARI treatment significantly reduced MG levels in aged rat aorta to those in young rats. Treatment of aged rats with soluble(s) RAGE, a soluble form of the chief signal transduction receptor for AGEs, RAGE, significantly improved EDR in aged rats, thus establishing the contribution of age‐related increases in AGEs to endothelial dysfunction. These findings reveal that significant increases in AR expression and activity in aged rat vasculature linked to endothelial dysfunction may be mitigated, at least in part, via ARI and that aging‐linked increased flux via AR generates AGEs; species which transduce endothelial injury consequent to their interaction with RAGE. These data demonstrate for the first time that AR mediates aging‐related vascular dysfunction, at least in part, via RAGE.     

Forearm ischemia decreases endothelial colony-forming cell angiogenic potential

Background aimsCirculating endothelial progenitor cells and especially endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are promising candidate cells for endothelial regenerative medicine of ischemic diseases, but the conditions for an optimal collection from adult blood must be improved.MethodsOn the basis of a recently reported vascular niche of ECFCs, we hypothesized that a local ischemia could trigger ECFC mobilization from the vascular wall into peripheral blood to optimize their collection for autologous implantation in critical leg ischemia. Because the target population with critical leg ischemia is composed of elderly patients in whom a vascular impairment has been documented, we also analyzed the impact of aging on ECFC mobilization and vascular integrity.ResultsAfter having defined optimized ECFC culture conditions, we studied the effect of forearm ischemia on ECFC numbers and functions in 26 healthy volunteers (13 volunteers ages 20–30-years old versus 13 volunteers ages 60–70 years old). The results show that forearm ischemia induced an efficient local ischemia and a normal endothelial response but did not mobilize ECFCs regardless of the age group. Moreover, we report an alteration of angiogenic properties of ECFCs obtained after forearm ischemia, in vitro as well as in vivo in a hindlimb ischemia murine model. This impaired ECFC angiogenic potential was not associated with a quantitative modification of the circulating endothelial compartment.ConclusionsThe procedure of local ischemia, although reulting in a preserved endothelial reactivity, did not mobilize ECFCs but altered their angiogenic potential.     

Angiotensin II induces endothelial cell senescence via the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases

Vascular endothelial cells have a finite cell lifespan and eventually enter an irreversible growth arrest, cellular senescence. The functional changes associated with cellular senescence are thought to contribute to human aging and age-related cardiovascular disorders, for example, atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II (Ang II), a principal effector of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), an important signaling molecule involved in atherogenic stimuli, is known to promote aging and cellular senescence. In the present study, induction of Ang II promoted a growth arrest with phenotypic characteristics of cell senescence, such as enlarged cell shapes, increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) positive staining cells, and depressed cell proliferation. Ang II drastically decreased the expression level of Bcl-2, in part via the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Our results suggest that Ang II can induce HUVEC senescence; one of its molecular mechanisms is a probability that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway is involved in the process of pathological and physiological senescence of endothelial cells as well as vascular aging.     

Increased Monocytic Adhesion by Senescence in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

We investigated whether replicative senescence of endothelial cells contributed to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs at a population-doubling level of 30 (PDL30) divided much more slowly than those at PDL9. The percentage of SA-β-Gal-positive cells and the mRNA expression levels of PAI-1 and p21 at PDL30 were significantly higher than those at PDL9. The changes induced by aging were evaluated according to the mRNA expression level of genes related to the endothelial cell function. The expression level of many adhesion molecules promoting monocytic adhesion was significantly increased, and monocytic adhesion on HUVECs was found to be significantly promoted by aging. Monocytic adhesion is an essential early event in the development of atherosclerosis, and our results suggest that replicative senescence of the vascular endothelial cells induced increased expression of adhesion molecules. The consequent increase in monocytic adhesion may then promote the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.