Endothelial Cell Senescence in Human Atherosclerosis

Background — The functional changes associated with cellular senescence may be involved in human aging and age-related vascular disorders. We have shown the important role of telomere and telomerase in vascular cell senescence in vitro. Progressive telomere shortening in vivo has been observed in the regions susceptible to atherosclerosis, implying contributions to atherogenesis. However, whether senescent vascular cells are present in the vasculature and contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis remains unclear. Methods and Results — Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity was examined in the coronary arteries and the internal mammary arteries retrieved from autopsied individuals who…