Endothelial Progenitor Cell Senescence as a Contributing Cause of Declining Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the process of building new blood vessels in response to circumstances, such as a relative lack of oxygenation in tissues, or repair of injury. It is quite complicated, involving several distinct stages and the interactions of a variety of different cell populations. Angiogenesis declines with age, particularly in the context of maintaining capillaries. The density of capillary networks is reduced with age, and this may be quite influential in the aging of energy-hungry issues such as the brain and muscles. It isn't just a reduction in delivery of nutrients and oxygen. Loss of microvascular blood flow through tissues is likely also disruptive to the regulation of blood pressure, a factor contributing to the development of hypertension. Which of the mechanisms of aging contribute to the loss of angiogenesis with age? Endothelial progenitor cells are one of the cell populations involved in angiogensis. In today's open access paper, the authors discuss cellular senescence in this population, and its negative effects on the capacity for angiogenesis, through the lens of microRNA regulation of these processes. Senescent cells grow in number with advancing age, in cell populations throughout the body. Their presence alters the cellular environment for the worse, generating inflammation and altered cell behavior. The research here provides just one example of many. Hsa-miR-409-3p regulates endothelial progenitor senescence via PP2A-P38 and is a potentia...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs