We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
Sekisui Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Age Related Arterial-Wall Stiffness Favors Development of Atherosclerosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 20 Dec 2011
Cardiovascular disease researchers described a mechanism that explains how aging contributes at the molecular level to the formation of the arterial plaques that cause atherosclerosis.

Investigators at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA) compared arteries from young (10 weeks) and old (21 to 25 months) healthy mice. More...
Endothelial cells from young and old arteries were allowed to grown in cultures supported by hydrogels that had been fabricated to match the elasticity of young and aging arterial walls.

They reported in the December 7, 2011, online edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine that endothelial monolayers exhibited increased permeability and disrupted cell-cell junctions on stiffer matrices – those that mimicked aged arteries. Increased permeability encouraged increased leukocyte extravasation, which is a critical step in atherosclerotic plaque formation. These results suggest that extracellular matrix stiffening alone, which occurs during aging, can lead to endothelial monolayer disruption and a microenvironment conducive to the development of atherosclerosis.

Mild inhibition of Rho-dependent cell contractility using the drug Y-27632, an inhibitor of Rho-associated kinase, or small interfering RNA restored monolayer integrity in vitro and in vivo.

“One of the things we wanted to do was understand how aging is linked to atherosclerosis, and how the mechanism of vessel stiffening plays into this link,” said senior author Dr. Cynthia Reinhart-King, professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University.

Related Links:
Cornell University



Platinum Member
Automated Coagulation Analyzer
Hemolumi H6
Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
New
Fully Automated Urinalysis System
DxU 1800 Fully Automated Urinalysis System
New
Drug Testing Assays
Atellica DT 250 Analyzer
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image Credit: 123RF

Screening After Pneumococcal Disease May Reveal Undiagnosed Blood Cancer or Immune Disorders

Severe pneumococcal disease requiring hospitalization often presents as pneumonia, particularly in older adults and people with cancer or compromised immune function. Because M protein testing and antibody... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image Credit: 123RF

FDA-Cleared Multiplex PCR Test Detects 13 Respiratory Pathogens in a Single Sample

Respiratory tract infections can be difficult to distinguish at presentation because many cause overlapping, nonspecific symptoms and are initially grouped as influenza-like illnesses. Causes span a range... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy setup consists of a Mid-IR laser equipped with three QCL modules covering wavelengths from 5.6 μm to 12.9 μm, two silver coated mirrors (SCM), a dichroic mirror (DM) with a transmittance of 90%, a thermal power sensor head (PM) to monitor the output laser power, a mechanical chopper (MC) for frequency modulation and a CEPAS-detector with a self-designed swab holder (SH). (Credit: Graunke, T., Scholz, T., Pieniak, M. et al. Scientific Reports (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68298-9)

Laser-Based Swab Analysis Shows Promise for Detecting Disease-Linked Odor Patterns

Disease-related changes in volatile organic compounds can alter body odor, producing measurable patterns in exhaled breath and bodily fluids. Current analytical methods can be complex, time-consuming,... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image

Collaboration Combines AI Cognitive Assessment and RNA Blood Testing for Earlier Alzheimer’s Detection

Alzheimer’s disease is often identified only after substantial neurodegeneration, partly because current diagnostic pathways are fragmented and difficult to scale. As treatment shifts toward earlier intervention,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2026 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.