Abstract
Aging is the dominant process altering vascular stiffness. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, mediate their effects by altering the structure, properties, and function of the vascular wall and endothelial components. Increased vascular stiffness exerts greater afterload stress on the heart. The ability to detect and monitor changes in the physical properties of arteries holds potential to intervene for prevention or attenuation of disease progression. Pulse wave velocity has been used as an index for vascular stiffness and as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis in laboratory animal models and in the clinic. Mouse models have been used extensively in vascular research. We and others have developed invasive and noninvasive methods to measure pulse wave velocity in rodents, such as rats and mice. Here we review the evidence that the development of atherosclerosis contributes greatly to vascular stiffening; that endothelial nitric oxide plays an important role in modulating vascular stiffness; that angiotensin II injures the vessel and increases vascular stiffness; and that treatment with estrogen attenuates vascular inflammation and reduces vascular stiffness. In addition, we also discuss the influence of hemodynamic, metabolic, inflammatory stimuli in impairing arterial wall integrity as well as potential mechanisms modulating vascular stiffness.
Keywords: vascular stiffness, pulse wave velocity, atherosclerosis, nitric oxide, angiotensin II, estrogen
Current Vascular Pharmacology
Title: Vascular Stiffness: Measurements, Mechanisms and Implications
Volume: 2 Issue: 4
Author(s): Yi-Xin Wang and Richard M. Fitch
Affiliation:
Keywords: vascular stiffness, pulse wave velocity, atherosclerosis, nitric oxide, angiotensin II, estrogen
Abstract: Aging is the dominant process altering vascular stiffness. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, mediate their effects by altering the structure, properties, and function of the vascular wall and endothelial components. Increased vascular stiffness exerts greater afterload stress on the heart. The ability to detect and monitor changes in the physical properties of arteries holds potential to intervene for prevention or attenuation of disease progression. Pulse wave velocity has been used as an index for vascular stiffness and as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis in laboratory animal models and in the clinic. Mouse models have been used extensively in vascular research. We and others have developed invasive and noninvasive methods to measure pulse wave velocity in rodents, such as rats and mice. Here we review the evidence that the development of atherosclerosis contributes greatly to vascular stiffening; that endothelial nitric oxide plays an important role in modulating vascular stiffness; that angiotensin II injures the vessel and increases vascular stiffness; and that treatment with estrogen attenuates vascular inflammation and reduces vascular stiffness. In addition, we also discuss the influence of hemodynamic, metabolic, inflammatory stimuli in impairing arterial wall integrity as well as potential mechanisms modulating vascular stiffness.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wang Yi-Xin and Fitch M. Richard, Vascular Stiffness: Measurements, Mechanisms and Implications, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2004; 2 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161043385448
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161043385448 |
Print ISSN 1570-1611 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6212 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC AND END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death in Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease, accounting for more than half of all deaths in dialysis patients. During the past decade, research has been focused on novel therapeutic agents that might delay or even reverse cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Editorial [Hot Topic:Ion Channels as a Target for Drug Design (Executive Editor: Kwok-Keung Tai)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: Targeting Mast Cells and Basophils in Allergy and Beyond: Emerging Concepts (Executive Guest Editor: Petr Heneberg)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design Modeling Cardiovascular Development: New Approaches are Making In Vitro En Vogue
Current Cardiology Reviews Influence of Statin Use on Endothelial Function: From Bench to Clinics
Current Pharmaceutical Design An Expeditious “Green” Michael Addition of Nitro Methane to Benzimidazole Chalcones in the Presence of TBAB as Surface Catalyst
Letters in Organic Chemistry Current Approaches to the Diagnosis of Classical form of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Therapeutical Perspectives of S-Allylcysteine: Effect on diabetes and other disorders in Animal Models
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Conference Report: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 180th Annual Meeting Chicago, IL, USA Feb 13-17, 2014 “Meeting Global Challenges: Discoveries & Innovation”
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Approach to the Patient with Subclinical Cushing’s Syndrome
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Role of Genetic Polymorphism in the Formation of Arterial Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes and their Comorbidity
Current Pharmaceutical Design ZnO@SnO2 Mixed Metal Oxide as an Efficient and Recoverable Nanocatalyst for the Solvent Free Synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4-Dihydropyridines
Letters in Organic Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic: Targeted Cancer Therapies: Current Status and Future Directions (Guest Editors: Ioannis Starakis)]
Current Medicinal Chemistry There is a Link Between Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Failure: It could be Inflammation
Current Drug Targets The Role of Systemic Treatment and Radiotherapy in Malignant Mesothelioma
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Modulation of Staurosporine-Activated Volume-Sensitive Outwardly Rectifying Cl- Channel by PI3K/Akt in Cardiomyocytes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Pharmacotherapy. Evolution and Current Concept of Drug-Related Problems
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein rs1532624 Gene Polymorphism is Associated with Reduced Response to Statin Therapy
Current Molecular Pharmacology Editorial [Hot Topic:Role of Food and Nutritional Factors in Metabolic Syndrome X,Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases (Guest Editor: Undurti N. Das)]
Current Nutrition & Food Science Editorial: Targeting Cerebral Vascular Injury for Intervention
Current Drug Delivery Synthesis and Biological Study of 3-Butyl-1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1H-[1,2,4]triazol- 5(4H)-one Derivatives as Anti-hypertension Drugs
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery