Effects of aging and atherosclerosis on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function in humans

Moutasim H AL-SHAER; Nabil E CHOUEIRI; Marcelo L. G CORREIA; Christine A SINKEY; Therese A BARENZ; William G HAYNES

doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.06.002

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Effects of aging and atherosclerosis on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function in humans

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effects of aging and atherosclerosis on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function in humans

Moutasim H AL-SHAER, Nabil E CHOUEIRI, Marcelo L. G CORREIA, Christine A SINKEY, Therese A BARENZ and William G HAYNES

International journal of cardiology, Vol.109(2), pp.201-206

2006

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.06.002

PMID: 16054252

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Abstract

Background Nitric oxide is an endothelium dependent dilator, which may protect against atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown a decrease in nitric oxide activity with aging, however none have assessed aging and atherosclerosis separately. We tested the hypothesis that aging blunts both basal and receptor-mediated endothelial nitric oxide release in humans. Methods We examined whether forearm blood flow responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine, and nitroprusside, were altered with aging, with and without co-infusion of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NG-mono-methyl-l-arginine) in three groups of human subjects; a group with clinical atherosclerotic vascular disease (n=31, 21 M), otherwise healthy elderly (n=17, 13 M), and healthy young controls (n=15, 8 M). Results There was no difference in basal flows between the three groups. There was also no difference in the dilatation to either acetylcholine or nitroprusside responses between the AVD and the healthy elderly group; however, aging significantly decreased acetylcholine or nitroprusside responses when compared to the young controls (p<0.02). Furthermore, the ratio between acetylcholine and nitroprusside, a marker of endothelial NO synthase activity, was significantly greater in the young volunteers (0.816±0.094% vs. 0.892±0.146 % vs. 1.389±0.2%, in atherosclerotic vascular disease, healthy elderly group, and young controls respectively). Conclusions Forearm blood flow responses to endothelium dependent and independent stimuli are blunted with aging, independent of the presence of atherosclerotic disease. Moreover, the normal aging process may induce significant global vascular dysfunction (involving the endothelium and the vascular smooth muscle); to as great a degree as clinically manifest atherosclerosis.

Heart

Cardiology. Vascular system

Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research)

Biological and medical sciences

Medical sciences

Coronary heart disease

Blood and lymphatic vessels

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effects of aging and atherosclerosis on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function in humans
Creators: Moutasim H AL-SHAER - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
Nabil E CHOUEIRI - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
Marcelo L. G CORREIA - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
Christine A SINKEY - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
Therese A BARENZ - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
William G HAYNES - University of Iowa, Internal Medicine, Bettendorf, IA, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of cardiology, Vol.109(2), pp.201-206
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.06.002
PMID: 16054252
NLM abbreviation: Int J Cardiol
ISSN: 0167-5273
eISSN: 1874-1754
Publisher: Elsevier Science
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health
Language: English
Date published: 2006
Academic Unit: Endocrinology and Metabolism; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984094777402771

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