Human endothelial function and microvascular ageing

Abstract

Age is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and this is an increasingly important public health concern because of an increase in the absolute number and proportion of the population at an older age in many countries. A key component of cardiovascular ageing is reduced function of the vascular endothelium, and this probably contributes to the impaired microvessel function observed with ageing in multiple vascular beds. In turn, impaired microvessel function is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Here we review evidence that the first signs of altered endothelial and microvessel function can appear in childhood and at all stages of the human lifespan; low-birth-weight babies have reduced endothelial function in skin microvessels at 3 months, and by age 10 years their brachial artery endothelial function is reduced in comparison with normal-birth-weight babies. In overweight/obese adolescent children with clustering of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, endothelial function is reduced compared with normal-weight children, and this appears to persist into early adulthood. Adult ageing is associated with impaired microvessel endothelial function and an increase in capillary blood pressure. Biological and lifestyle factors that influence microvessel function include body fat and visceral adiposity, sex hormone status, diet and physical activity. The mechanisms underlying age-associated changes in microvessel function are uncertain but may involve alterations in nitric oxide, prostanoid, endotheliumderived hyperpolarizing factor(s) and endothelin-1 pathways.

Microvascular dysfunction: a direct link among BMI, waist circumference and glucose homeostasis in young overweight/obese normoglycemic women?

“…Age differences in reported studies could account for observed discrepancies. 26 Once again, a continuous increase in TRBCV max in relation to adiposity degree seemed to occur. Post-occlusive reactive hyperemia, usually used to induce capillary recruitment, is thought to be determined at the level of small arterioles 27 and to be independent of the autonomic nervous system.…”

Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of acetone extract of <i>Cleome gynandra</i> (L.) growing in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

“…A lower IC 50 value corresponds to a higher scavenging activity. Nitric oxide plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of several diseases associated with inflammation in humans (Gates et al, 2008). It is a free radical formed from sodium nitroprusside which reacts with oxygen to form nitrite.…”

Vascular ageing and endothelial cell senescence: Molecular mechanisms of physiology and diseases

“…The age-related decline of endothelial function becomes manifest through a reduced neo-angiogenic capacity and altered response to microenvironment stimuli such as reduced oxygen and nutrient supply. Vascular and microvascular alterations directly impact on ageing-associated organ damage (Gates et al, 2009;Iantorno et al, 2014). Circulation provides the interface for tissue delivery of nutrients and oxygen, transvascular exchange, removal of carbon dioxide and catabolic products and fluid body economy.…”