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Lefferts WK, Reed KS, Rosonke RE, Augustine JA, Moreau KL. Age-associated increases in middle cerebral artery pulsatility differ between men and women. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H1118-H1125. [PMID: 37682233 PMCID: PMC10908402 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00453.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying sex differences in brain aging remain unclear but may relate to changes in cerebral pulsatile blood flow. Sex differences in the stiffening of the large arteries and expansion of pulse pressure with age may accelerate changes in pulsatile (i.e., discontinuous) blood flow in the brain that contribute to brain health. The purpose of this cross-sectional, secondary analysis was to examine sex differences in age-associated changes in large artery (aorta and carotid) stiffness, carotid pulse pressure, and cerebral pulsatility in 206 men and 217 women between 18 and 72 yr of age. Outcomes included aortic stiffness [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)] and carotid pulse pressure via tonometry, carotid β-stiffness via ultrasound, and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index via transcranial Doppler. Regression analyses revealed a significant age-by-sex interaction, with women exhibiting a slower rate of change compared with men for cfPWV (β = -0.21, P = 0.04), and greater rate of change for carotid stiffness (β = 0.27, P = 0.02), carotid pulse pressure (β = 0.98, P < 0.001), and MCA pulsatility index (β = 0.49, P = 0.002) after adjustment for covariates. The significant age-by-sex interaction for MCA pulsatility was abolished after further adjustment for carotid pulse pressure. Women exhibit accelerated increases in cerebral pulsatility during midlife, likely driven by exaggerated increases in carotid stiffness and pulse pressure compared with men. These data suggest that there are disproportionate increases in cerebral pulsatility in women during midlife that could contribute to accelerated brain aging compared with men.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We identify sex-specific associations between increasing age and cerebral pulsatility and its vascular mechanisms. When compared with men, women in our cross-sectional analysis exhibited greater age-associated increases in carotid stiffness, carotid pulse pressure, and cerebral pulsatility particularly during midlife. These data suggest that the rapid expansion of pulse pressure during midlife contributes to an exaggerated increase in cerebral pulsatility among women and suggest a potential mechanism contributing to sex differences in brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley K Lefferts
- Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States
| | - Krista S Reed
- Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States
| | - Rachel E Rosonke
- Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States
| | | | - Kerrie L Moreau
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
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Reeve EH, Kronquist EK, Wolf JR, Lee B, Khurana A, Pham H, Cullen AE, Peterson JA, Meza A, Colton Bramwell R, Villasana L, Machin DR, Henson GD, Walker AE. Pyridoxamine treatment ameliorates large artery stiffening and cerebral artery endothelial dysfunction in old mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:281-295. [PMID: 36189840 PMCID: PMC9903220 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221130124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Age-related increases in large artery stiffness are associated with cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Pyridoxamine treatment prevents large artery stiffening with advancing age, but the effects of pyridoxamine treatment on the cerebral vasculature or cognition is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pyridoxamine on blood pressure, large artery stiffness, cerebral artery function, and cognitive function in old mice. Old male C57BL/6 mice consumed either pyridoxamine (2 g/L) or vehicle control in drinking water for ∼7.5 months and were compared with young male C57BL/6 mice. From pre- to post-treatment, systolic blood pressure increased in old control mice, but was maintained in pyridoxamine treated mice. Large artery stiffness decreased in pyridoxamine-treated mice but was unaffected in control mice. Pyridoxamine-treated mice had greater cerebral artery endothelium-dependent dilation compared with old control mice, and not different from young mice. Old control mice had impaired cognitive function; however, pyridoxamine only partially preserved cognitive function in old mice. In summary, pyridoxamine treatment in old mice prevented age-related increases in blood pressure, reduced large artery stiffness, preserved cerebral artery endothelial function, and partially preserved cognitive function. Taken together, these results suggest that pyridoxamine treatment may limit vascular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Reeve
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Elise K Kronquist
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Julia R Wolf
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Byron Lee
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Aleena Khurana
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Hanson Pham
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Abigail E Cullen
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jessica A Peterson
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Antonio Meza
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - R Colton Bramwell
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Daniel R Machin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, 7823, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Grant D Henson
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Ashley E Walker
- Department of Human Physiology, 3265, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Phalane E, Fourie C, Schutte AE, Kruger IM, Mels C. Arterial structure and function in Africans with HIV for > 5 years: longitudinal relationship with endothelial activation and cardiovascular risk markers. HIV Med 2021; 22:650-661. [PMID: 33949073 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine whether people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWHIV) have increased measures of arterial injury [carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT)] and large artery stiffness [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)] when compared with their counterparts without HIV, and whether baseline markers of endothelial activation and cardiovascular risk are associated with cIMT and cfPWV after 5 years. METHODS We matched 126 PWHIV from North West Province, South Africa, to 126 without HIV according to age, sex and locality. Cardiovascular risk and endothelial function markers [soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1)] were measured at baseline and cIMT and cfPWV at follow-up. RESULTS This study included 21.4% men. The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) increased from 44.1% at baseline to 81.4% at follow-up. At follow-up, cIMT (P = 0.90) and cfPWV (P = 0.35) were similar in the groups. Despite elevated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the PWHIV (all P < 0.001) at baseline, these markers did not associate with cIMT and cfPWV after 5 years. In multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, cIMT associated positively with age (β = 0.31, P = 0.002) and triglyceride: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (β = 0.23, P = 0.016) in PWHIV. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) (β = 0.28, P = 0.010) associated positively with cfPWV in the PWHIV. In the people without HIV, sex (β = 0.31, P = 0.004) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (β = 0.24, P = 0.026) associated with cIMT while age (β = 0.17, P = 0.049), sex (β = 0.29, P = 0.003), MAP (β = 0.31, P = 0.001) and HbA1c (β = 0.21, P = 0.041) associated positively with cfPWV. CONCLUSIONS Measures of arterial structure and function were similar in Africans with HIV and their age, sex and locality matched controls. Traditional cardiovascular risk markers rather than elevated endothelial activation at baseline were independently associated with cIMT and cfPWV over 5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Phalane
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Cmt Fourie
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - A E Schutte
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - I M Kruger
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Cmc Mels
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Walker AE, Kronquist EK, Chinen KT, Reihl KD, Li DY, Lesniewski LA, Donato AJ. Cerebral and skeletal muscle feed artery vasoconstrictor responses in a mouse model with greater large elastic artery stiffness. Exp Physiol 2019; 104:434-442. [PMID: 30633428 DOI: 10.1113/ep087453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Greater large artery stiffness is associated with dysfunctional resistance artery vasodilatory responses, impaired memory and greater risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, it is unknown whether stiffer large arteries affect cerebral and skeletal muscle feed artery responses to vasoconstrictors. What is the main finding and its importance? In a mouse model with greater large artery stiffness (Eln+/- ), we find an exacerbated vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin II in cerebral arteries, but not skeletal muscle feed arteries, thus implicating altered cerebral artery angiotensin II responsiveness in the poor brain outcomes associated with greater large artery stiffness. ABSTRACT Greater stiffness of the large elastic arteries is associated with end-organ damage and dysfunction. At the same time, resistance artery vasoconstrictor responsiveness influences vascular tone and organ blood flow. However, it is unknown whether large elastic artery stiffness modulates the responsiveness to vasoconstrictors in resistance arteries of the cerebral or skeletal muscle circulations. We previously described the elastin haploinsufficient (Eln+/- ) mouse as a model with greater aortic stiffness, but with similar cerebral and skeletal muscle feed artery stiffness to wild-type (Eln+/+ ) mice. Here, we used this model to examine the relationship between large elastic artery stiffness and resistance artery vasoconstrictor responses. In middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), vasoconstriction in response to angiotensin II (Ang II) was ∼40% greater in Eln+/- compared with Eln+/+ mice (P = 0.02), and this group difference was ameliorated by losartan, indicating a role for Ang II type 1 receptors (AT1Rs). In gastrocnemius feed arteries, Eln+/- and Eln+/+ mice did not differ in the response to Ang II. In addition, the vasoconstrictor responses to noradrenaline, endothelin-1 and potassium chloride were not different between Eln+/- and Eln+/+ mice for either MCAs or gastrocnemius feed arteries. The MCA AT1R gene expression did not differ between groups, whereas Ang II type 2 receptor gene expression was ∼50% lower in MCAs from Eln+/- versus Eln+/+ mice (P = 0.01). In conclusion, greater large elastic artery stiffness is associated with an exacerbated vasoconstriction response to Ang II in cerebral arteries, but is not associated with the responses to other vasoconstrictors in either cerebral or skeletal muscle feed arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E Walker
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elise K Kronquist
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Kerrick T Chinen
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Kelly D Reihl
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dean Y Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Cardiology, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lisa A Lesniewski
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Anthony J Donato
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Liu Y, Bloom SI, Donato AJ. The role of senescence, telomere dysfunction and shelterin in vascular aging. Microcirculation 2018; 26:e12487. [PMID: 29924435 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the United States and other westernized nations, CVDs are the leading cause of death in adults over 65 years of age. Large artery stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are increased with age and age-associated arterial dysfunction is an important antecedent of CVDs. One age-associated change that may contribute to vascular dysfunction and CVD risk is an increase in the number of resident senescent cells in the vasculature. Senescent cells display a pro-oxidant, pro-inflammatory phenotype known as the SASP. However, the mechanisms that drive the SASP and the vascular aging phenotype remain elusive. A putative mechanism is the involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation in telomere function. Telomeres are the end caps of chromosomes which are maintained by a six-protein complex known as shelterin. Disruption of shelterin can uncap telomeres and induce cellular senescence. Accordingly, in this review, we propose that oxidative stress and inflammation disrupt shelterin in vascular cells, driving telomere dysfunction and that this mechanism may be responsible for the induction of SASP. The proposed mechanisms may represent some of the initial changes that lead to vascular dysfunction in advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Samuel I Bloom
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Anthony J Donato
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
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