Brandes Ralf P, Fleming Ingrid, Busse Rudi
Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, J.W. Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Cardiovasc Res. 2005 May 1;66(2):286-94. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2004.12.027.
Aging is considered to be the major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and, therefore, for coronary artery disease. Apart from age-associated remodeling of the vascular wall, which includes luminal enlargement, intimal and medial thickening, and increased vascular stiffness, endothelial function declines with age. This is most obvious from the attenuation of endothelium-dependent dilator responses, which is a consequence of the alteration in the expression and/or activity of the endothelial NO synthase, upregulation of the inducible NO synthase, and increased formation of reactive oxygen species. Aging is also associated with a reduction in the regenerative capacity of the endothelium and endothelial senescence, which is characterized by an increased rate of endothelial cell apoptosis.
衰老被认为是动脉粥样硬化发生发展的主要危险因素，因此也是冠心病的主要危险因素。除了与年龄相关的血管壁重塑，包括管腔扩大、内膜和中膜增厚以及血管僵硬度增加外，内皮功能也会随年龄下降。这从内皮依赖性舒张反应的减弱最为明显地体现出来，这是内皮型一氧化氮合酶表达和/或活性改变、诱导型一氧化氮合酶上调以及活性氧形成增加的结果。衰老还与内皮再生能力的降低和内皮细胞衰老有关，其特征是内皮细胞凋亡率增加。
