Inflammaging and Its Contribution to the Development of Atherosclerosis

Inflammaging describes the raised, unresolved inflammation characteristic of old tissues, a dysfunction of the immune system that in turn produces failures of tissue maintenance and function. It arises from issues such as the inflammatory signaling of senescent cells and the reaction of the innate immune system to DNA debris from age-damaged cells. That senescent cells can be cleared, and that clearance will soon enough become a part of everyday medicine, means that the burden of inflammaging for future generations will be diminished. As a result, many age-related diseases will be reduced in incidence and severity, including atherosclerosis. An increasing number of reports show that aging is a driving factor of atherosclerosis. Aging is closely related to endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness, which are considered to be early events leading to CVD. The aging process involves promotion of a series of risk factors (i.e., oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and pro-inflammatory cytokines), leading to endothelial dysfunction and vascular system damage. In addition, cellular aging induces the release of microvesicles, further contributing to the development and calcification of atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, the incidence of atherosclerosis increases with chronological age, and accelerated aging is the main risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, atherosclerotic plaques represent a key index of cellular aging, which is...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs