Habitual aerobic exercise is associated with enhanced endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD) in older humans, possibly by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. EDD was measured in young (6-8 months) and old (29-32 months) cage control and voluntary wheel running (VR) B6D2F1 mice. Age-related reductions in maximal carotid artery EDD to acetylcholine (74 vs. 96%, P < 0.01) and the nitric oxide (NO) component of EDD (maximum dilatation with ACh and l-NAME minus that with ACh alone was −28% vs. −55%, P < 0.01) were restored in old VR (EDD: 96%, NO: −46%). Nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxidative stress, was increased in aorta with age, but was markedly lower in old VR (P < 0.05). Aortic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was greater (P < 0.01), whereas NADPH oxidase protein expression (P < 0.01) and activity (P = 0.05) were lower in old VR vs. old cage control. Increasing SOD (with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl) and inhibition of NADPH oxidase (with apocynin) improved EDD and its NO component in old cage control, but not old VR mice. VR increased endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein expression (P < 0.05) and activation (Ser1177 phosphorylation) (P < 0.05) in old mice. VR did not affect EDD in young mice. Our results show that voluntary aerobic exercise restores the age-associated loss of EDD by suppression of oxidative stress via stimulation of SOD antioxidant activity and inhibition of NADPH oxidase superoxide production. Increased eNOS protein and activation also may contribute to exercise-mediated preservation of NO bioavailability and EDD with ageing.

SummaryTo determine if short-term calorie restriction reverses vascular endothelial dysfunction in old mice, old (O, n = 30) and young (Y, n = 10) male B6D2F1 mice were fed ad libitum (AL) or calorie restricted (CR, approximately 30%) for 8 weeks. Ex vivo carotid artery endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) was impaired in old ad libitum (OAL) vs. young ad libitum (YAL) (74 ± 5 vs. 95 ± 2% of maximum dilation, P < 0.05), whereas old calorie-restricted (OCR) and YCR did not differ (96 ± 1 vs. 94 ± 3%). Impaired EDD in OAL was mediated by reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability associated with decreased endothelial NO synthase expression (aorta) (P < 0.05), both of which were restored in OCR. Nitrotyrosine, a cellular marker of oxidant modification, was markedly elevated in OAL (P < 0.05), whereas OCR was similar to Y. Aortic superoxide production was 150% greater in OAL vs. YAL (P < 0.05), but normalized in OCR, and TEMPOL, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic that restored EDD in OAL (to 97 ± 2%), had no effect in Y or OCR. OAL had increased expression and activity of the oxidant enzyme, NADPH oxidase, and its inhibition (apocynin) improved EDD, whereas NADPH oxidase in OCR was similar to Y. Manganese SOD activity and sirtuin1 expression were reduced in OAL (P < 0.05), but restored to Y in OCR. Inflammatory cytokines were greater in OAL vs. YAL (P < 0.05), but unaffected by CR. Carotid artery endothelium-independent dilation did not differ among groups. Short-term CR initiated in old age reverses age-associated vascular endothelial dysfunction by restoring NO bioavailability, reducing oxidative stress (via reduced NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide production and stimulation of anti-oxidant enzyme activity), and upregulation of sirtuin-1.

We tested the hypothesis that regular aerobic exercise reverses arterial inflammation with aging. When compared with young controls (6.2 ± 0.4 mo; n = 7), old (31.3 ± 0.5 mo; n = 11) male B6D2F1 cage-restricted mice demonstrated increased arterial activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB, as indicated by greater aortic phosphorylation of both the inhibitor of NF-κB kinase (IKK) and the p65 subunit of NF-κB (both P < 0.05). Similarly, aortic expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were greater in the old mice (all P < 0.05). Macrophage and T lymphocyte abundance was unchanged with age in the aortic intima and media but was markedly increased in the adventitia and perivascular fat tissue of old mice (all P < 0.05). This proinflammatory arterial phenotype with aging was associated with vascular dysfunction, as reflected by impaired nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation. Voluntary wheel running (10-14 wk) normalized aortic IKK-NF-κB activation, cytokine expression, adventitial and perivascular macrophage infiltration, and vascular function in old mice (32.4 ± 0.3 mo; n = 8) while having no consistent effects in young mice. Short-term voluntary wheel running started late in life reverses arterial inflammation with aging in mice possibly via outside-in actions. These anti-inflammatory effects may play an important role in the amelioration of age-associated vascular dysfunction by regular aerobic exercise.

To determine if B6D2F1 mice represent a suitable model of oxidative stress-mediated impaired endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) with aging, mice were studied at 6.9 +/- 0.3 and 31.9 +/- 0.6 months. EDD to acetylcholine (ACh) was 26% (p < .001) and 12% (p < .001) lower, respectively, in isolated carotid (n = 10-11) and femoral (n = 10) arteries from older mice, and reductions in arterial pressure to systemic ACh infusion were smaller in older mice (n = 6-10; p < .01). Nitrotyrosine was marked in aorta of older mice (p < .05, n = 4). Superoxide production in carotid arteries was greater (p < .05), and TEMPOL restored dilation in carotid arteries and systemically in older mice. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) reduced carotid artery dilation in young more than older mice, whereas TEMPOL restored the effects of l-NAME in older mice. Carotid artery stiffness was increased in older compared with young mice (p = .04). Our results provide the first comprehensive evidence that B6D2F1 mice are a useful model for investigating mechanisms of reduced nitric oxide-dependent, oxidative stress-associated EDD and increased arterial stiffness with aging.

We hypothesized that I kappa B kinase (IKK)-mediated nuclear factor kappa B and forkhead BoxO3a phosphorylation will be associated with age-related endothelial dysfunction. Endothelium-dependent dilation and aortic protein expression/phosphorylation were determined in young and old male B6D2F1 mice and old mice treated with the IKK inhibitor, salicylate. IKK activation was greater in old mice and was associated with greater nitrotyrosine and cytokines. Endothelium-dependent dilation, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation were lower in old mice. Endothelium-dependent dilation and NO bioavailability were restored by a superoxide dismutase mimetic. Nuclear factor kappa B and forkhead BoxO3a phosphorylation were greater in old and were associated with increased expression/activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and lower manganese superoxide dismutase expression. Salicylate lowered IKK phosphorylation and reversed age-associated changes in nitrotyrosine, endothelium-dependent dilation, NO bioavailability, endothelial NO synthase, nuclear factor kappa B and forkhead BoxO3a phosphorylation, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, and manganese superoxide dismutase. Increased activation of IKK with advancing age stimulates nuclear factor kappa B and inactivates forkhead BoxO3a. This altered transcription factor activation contributes to a pro-inflammatory/pro-oxidative arterial phenotype that is characterized by increased cytokines and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and decreased manganese superoxide dismutase leading to oxidative stress-mediated endothelial dysfunction.