Submitted on October 10, 2008
Revised on November 13, 2008
Accepted on November 20, 2008
Vascular Endothelial Senescence: From Mechanisms to Pathophysiology
Jorge D. Erusalimsky1*
1 University of Wales Institute
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jderusalimsky{at}uwic.ac.uk.
Most mitotically competent mammalian cell types can react to stress by undergoing a phenotypically distinctive and permanent form of growth arrest called "cellular senescence". This response has been extensively characterised in cell culture and more recently it has been found to occur also in vivo in a number of tissues. In this review I will present the case for the occurrence of senescence in the vascular endothelium. I will also discuss the mechanisms and factors that modulate endothelial cell replicative capacity and the onset of senescence. Finally, I will examine the senescent phenotype and its possible consequences for the development and progression of vascular diseases.
