Endothelial Cell Senescence in Atherosclerosis

Senescent cells accumulate throughout the body with age. They are created constantly due to stresses placed upon cells, and when somatic cells reach the Hayflick limit on replication, and are cleared by the immune system. This process of clearance slows down with age, unfortunately, and so a burden of lingering senescent cells begins to build up. Senescent cells are disruptive to tissue structure and function, even when present in comparatively small numbers relative to other cells in a tissue, as a result of the pro-growth, pro-inflammatory signals that they generate. Atherosclerosis involves the generation of fatty lesions that narrow and weaken blood vessels, and is the leading cause of human mortality, as rupture of these lesions causes stroke and heart attack. We might view it as a condition of macrophage dysfunction, as these are the cells tasked with cleaning up the excess cholesterol and cell debris that form the bulk of an atherosclerotic lesion. The lesions grow to the degree that macrophages become overwhelmed and begin to die, calling for more support as they do so. In this context, to what degree is atherosclerosis driven by cellular senescence? And which sort of senescent cells? It is known that cells become senescent in and around atherosclerotic lesions, and that clearing them in animal models helps to slow progression of pathology; one can speculate on the mechanisms by which various types of senescent cell can contribute to make the lesion envi...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs