A vascular protein keeps blood pressure in check with age
High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in older adults. But why do some people develop it early, while others stay healthy well into old age? A protein in the blood vessel wall may play a bigger role than previously thought.
Researchers published their findings in the journal Aging Cell. They studied AGGF1, a protein involved in the formation of new blood vessels. The study shows that AGGF1 levels drop significantly with both aging and hypertension. In blood vessels of people with high blood pressure, the protein was substantially lower than in those with normal blood pressure.
The team also tested this in mice. Animals that underexpressed AGGF1 developed high blood pressure at an earlier age. Those that overexpressed AGGF1 maintained better blood pressure control even at advanced ages. The effect was entirely traced to the endothelium: the thin cell layer lining the inside of blood vessels. Blood vessels relax through two mechanisms. One depends on the endothelium. That mechanism was impaired in animals with low AGGF1 and improved in animals with high AGGF1. The other mechanism was unaffected.
Aging of the vessel wall
A second finding came from cells in laboratory conditions. Endothelial cells with low AGGF1 showed more signs of cellular senescence: a state in which cells stop dividing and secrete inflammatory molecules. These cells also produced more reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules that cause tissue damage. There were additional signs of DNA damage and elevated levels of the inflammatory marker IL-6.
This pattern fits what researchers call vascular aging: a gradual process in which blood vessel walls become stiffer and more prone to inflammation. From a longevity medicine perspective, this is noteworthy because it links hypertension directly to aging processes at the cellular level.
A new therapeutic target?
The study was conducted in mouse models and endothelial cells. Whether increasing AGGF1 levels in humans would also lower blood pressure remains to be studied. The researchers suggest AGGF1 may be a potential therapeutic target, but clinical confirmation is still lacking. These findings are preliminary and require follow-up in human populations.
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