Advances in epigenetic regulation of vascular aging

Abstract

Vascular aging is a major risk factor and driver of age-related cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Atherosclerosis, hypertension, and other CVD lead to vascular dysfunction that involves multiple pathological processes such as oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and autophagy. Epigenetics refers to genetic changes that occur when the DNA remains unchanged that include DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA. It has been reported that epigenetics plays an effective regulatory role in CVD and affects cardiovascular repair function. Presently, drugs targeting epigenetics have applications in malignant tumors and inflammation. Therefore, exploration of epigenetic mechanisms in vascular aging will allow us to understand the pathogenesis of diseases related to vascular aging. This review focuses on the pathological changes in vascular aging and analyzes the relationship between vascular aging and epigenetics. Additionally, this review focuses on the pathogenesis of vascular aging related diseases from a new perspective in order to develop epigenetic-based treatment strategies for patients with age-related cardiovascular diseases.