TitleVascular oxidative stress and inflammation increase with age: ameliorating effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsLi L, Smith A, Hagen TM, Frei B
JournalAnn N Y Acad Sci
Volume1203
Pagination151-9
Date Published2010 Aug
ISSN1749-6632
KeywordsAging, Animals, Aorta, Dietary Supplements, Inflammation, Male, Oxidative Stress, Rats, Rats, Inbred F344, Thioctic Acid
Abstract

Increased oxidative stress and inflammation causally contribute to cardiovascular diseases, for which advanced age is a major risk factor. We found that indicators of oxidative stress, including NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide levels, were significantly increased in aortas of old (22-24 months) versus young (3-4 months) male F344 rats, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased. Aortic mRNA and protein levels of NOX4, the principal catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase in vascular cells, also were increased with age, but not NOX2 and p22(phox). Indicators of inflammation, including activation of NFkappaB and upregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aorta, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in plasma, also were significantly increased in old rats. Supplementation with 0.2% (wt/wt) (R)-alpha-lipoic acid (LA) for 2 weeks caused a nonsignificant decrease in NADPH oxidase activity in aged aorta and a significant decrease in mRNA--but not protein--levels of NOX4 and VCAM-1. Furthermore, LA reversed the age-dependent changes in aortic SOD activity and plasma MCP-1 levels. Hence, vascular oxidative stress and inflammation increase with age and are ameliorated by LA supplementation.

DOI10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05555.x
Alternate JournalAnn. N. Y. Acad. Sci.
PubMed ID20716298
Grant ListR01 AG017141 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P01 AT002034 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States