Key result
Age-related arterial stiffening promotes atherosclerosis by disturbing vascular endothelial integrity.
Why the study?
Aging is associated with arterial stiffening that promotes atherosclerosis, but effective therapeutic strategies for arterial stiffening are lacking.
Targeting the endothelial response to arterial stiffening may offer a novel therapeutic approach to complement existing lipid-lowering and antihypertensive treatments in atherosclerosis.
Should not yet change atherosclerosis management; leaves open endothelial response to stiffening as a research target.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Aging is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased vessel wall stiffness. Pathophysiological stiffening, notably in arteries, disturbs the integrity of the vascular endothelium and promotes permeability and transmigration of immune cells, thereby driving the development of atherosclerosis and related vascular diseases. Effective therapeutic strategies for arterial stiffening are still lacking. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we overview the literature on age-related arterial stiffening, from patient-derived data to preclinical in-vivo and in-vitro findings. First, we overview the common techniques that are used to measure stiffness and discuss the observed stiffness values in atherosclerosis and aging. Next, the endothelial response to stiffening and possibilities to attenuate this response are discussed. SUMMARY: Future research that will define the endothelial contribution to stiffness-related cardiovascular disease may provide new targets for intervention to restore endothelial function in atherosclerosis and complement the use of currently applied lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Hooglugt et al. (2022) conducted a review in Atherosclerosis and age-related arterial stiffening. Age-related arterial stiffening disturbs vascular endothelial integrity and promotes atherosclerosis, highlighting the need for future research to define new therapeutic targets.
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