衰老与血管内皮功能障碍

Ageing and Endothelial Dysfunction

血管内皮功能障碍是血管老化的早期病理改变之一,对动脉粥样硬化的发生发展起到非常重要的作用。老年性血管内皮功能障碍主要表现在内皮一氧化氮、前列环素和内皮衍生超极化因子等一系列内皮舒血管物质的生成减少或其生物利用度下降,而内皮素、血栓素和活性氧等一些内皮缩血管物质的生成或血管对这些物质的敏感性增加。另外,衰老导致的血管内皮修复能力减退也起到一定的作用。现就衰老对这些因素的影响及其分子机制作一概述。

Endothelial dysfunction, an early event in the pathogenesis of ageing, plays an important role in the progression of vascular atherosclerosis. Reducing the productivity and bioavailability of endothelium-derived relaxing factors, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors; and increasing the productivity and sensitivity of endothelium-derived constricting factors, including endothelin, thromboxane A2 and reactive oxygen species, are the key determinants of age-associated endothelial dysfunction. An additional factor is poor recovery of damaged endothelial cells. This article discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying ageing-mediated endothelial dysfunction.