VEGF's Role in Blood Vessel Aging: A Path to Longevity?
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Chapter 1: The Essence of Blood
Blood is often regarded as the essence of life. Without it, human existence is impossible. Blood plays a crucial role in delivering essential nutrients to various tissues, eliminating waste, transporting immune cells and hormones, and regulating body temperature. Given its extensive and multifunctional roles, blood may play a significant part in the aging process. For instance, certain components in "aged" blood could contribute to cancer proliferation, and researchers frequently examine serum or plasma proteins to develop precise molecular aging markers.
Innovative interventions targeting senescence also explore the effects of blood, including parabiosis—where old blood is swapped for that of a younger donor—and blood dilution to potentially eliminate age-promoting substances temporarily. The metaphorical fountain of youth may indeed reside within our very own blood.
However, for blood to fulfill its functions, a robust infrastructure is necessary. Blood is propelled from the heart through arteries, reaching capillaries where vital exchanges occur. Following this, it returns to the heart via veins.
Infrastructure Maintenance Challenges
As we age, maintaining this vascular infrastructure becomes increasingly challenging. A recent study conducted on mice has identified the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein as a potential key player in this decline.
VEGF, which stands for vascular endothelial growth factor, is a protein that promotes the growth of blood vessels, both during development and in adulthood. However, our blood vessels do not age well; they become stiff, clogged, and damaged over time. Factors such as genetics, diet, and lifestyle contribute to this deterioration. Additionally, capillary rarefaction, or the reduction in capillary density, poses a significant issue, affecting nutrient delivery to tissues.
Researchers investigated the role of VEGF in aging mice, revealing that while VEGF production remained stable with age, its signaling diminished in various organs. This change was attributed to an increase in soluble VEGFR1 (sVEGFR1), which inhibits blood vessel formation.
Is this signaling change truly pivotal in aging?
To explore this question, the researchers conducted two experiments: they administered the beneficial form of VEGF to older mice, either through genetic modification or a viral vector, while another group was genetically altered to lack VEGF function.
The findings were striking: older mice receiving additional VEGF were shielded from age-related capillary loss and showed improvements in issues such as mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic flexibility, endothelial cell aging, and inflammation. These mice also experienced enhanced longevity and health compared to their age-matched peers, exhibiting less abdominal and liver fat, and reduced muscle and bone loss. Conversely, mice that lost VEGF function faced accelerated aging-related challenges.
The authors of the study concluded that vascular aging significantly drives overall biological aging, emphasizing the critical role of VEGF signaling insufficiency in the aging process. They suggest that addressing this deficiency could offer substantial protective benefits against aging.
VEGF-Boosting Treatments: A Cautious Approach
While the results are compelling, rushing to develop VEGF-enhancing therapies may be premature. It's essential to remember that findings from mouse studies do not always translate to humans. Moreover, VEGF is not solely beneficial; excessive levels can lead to issues such as retinopathy and rapid plaque development in arteries, as well as facilitate cancer growth by enhancing blood vessel formation around tumors.
Thus, maintaining a balance of VEGF levels is crucial—neither too much nor too little but just the right amount. Discovering this balance remains an ongoing endeavor, as the diverse roles of various VEGF forms in different diseases are under intense investigation.
Keep the blood flowing.
Chapter 2: The Impact of VEGF on Aging
This video titled "VEGF to extend lifespan? (targeting vascular aging)" delves into the significance of VEGF in combating blood vessel aging and its implications for longevity.
The second video, "Rewinding the clock on aging blood vessels," explores potential strategies for rejuvenating aging blood vessels through innovative research.