Effects of Aging on Vascular Function-Human to Cell
APS Cardiovascular Section
Judy Mueller-Delp
M.J. Joyner, J.M. Delp, E. Wilson, T. M. Hagen and C. Patterson
Aging is considered an independent risk factor for the
development of atherosclerosis and other vascular pathologies.
Additionally, vascular dysfunction and insufficiencies associated with aging
are now thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of such varying diseases
as Alzheimer’s and dementia, skeletal muscle atrophy and coronary
dysfunction. While individual aspects of alterations in vascular function
in the aged have been presented in other forums, for this symposium we would
like to address alteration in vascular function with the normal aging
process. The symposium will emphasize our current knowledge from
non-invasive human investigations, functional investigations of changes in
isolated microvessel, comparison of extracellular matrix-integrin expression
in conduit and resistance arteries and the relationship of these structural
changes to function and cellular changes in both endothelial cells and
smooth muscle cells that alter function
The symposium will begin with an introduction to
changes in human vascular function with aging presented by Dr. Joyner. Dr.
Delp will then present functional data comparing endothelial-dependent
functional changes in skeletal muscle microvasculature in aged rats as
compared to young controls. Dr. Wilson will present data relating changes
in extracellular matrix-integrin expression and functional alterations in
both conduit and resistance vessels. Drs. Hagen and Patterson will then
present alterations in cellular function in endothelial and vascular smooth
muscle cells, respectively. Presentation of this comprehensive series of
talks regarding alterations in vascular function with aging will be of
interest to members of the APS and other societies and will bring together
the field from non-invasive human studies to specific cellular pathways.
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