6533b837fe1ef96bd12a343c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Development and Aging Are Oxygen-Dependent and Correlate with VEGF and NOS along Life Span

Susi ZaraA. CataldiMieczyslaw PokorskiMieczyslaw PokorskiAndrea PorzionatoJ. AntosiewiczR. De CaroC. Di Giulio

subject

AdultVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAgingmedicine.medical_specialtyNitric Oxide Synthase Type IIAutopsyBiologyHypoxemiaNitric oxideYoung Adultchemistry.chemical_compoundAnoxiaInternal medicinemedicineHumansYoung adultChildPreschoolAgedCarotid BodyAdult; Aged; Aging; Anoxia; Carotid Body; Cell Differentiation; Child Preschool; Humans; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxygen; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Young AdultCell DifferentiationHypoxia (medical)Oxygenmedicine.anatomical_structureEndocrinologyHypoxia-inducible factorschemistryImmunohistochemistryCarotid bodymedicine.symptom

description

During development and aging, vascular remodeling represents a critical adaptive response to modifications in oxygen supply to tissues. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) has a crucial role and is modulated by oxygen levels, with an age-dependent response in neonates, adult, and aged people. ROS are generated under hypoxic conditions and the accumulation of free radicals during life reduces the ability of tissues to their removal. In this immunohistochemical study we investigated the presence and localization of VEGF and iNOS in human carotid bodies (CB) sampled at autopsy from three children (mean age – 2 years), four adult young subjects (mean age – 44.3 years), and four old subjects (mean age – 67.3 years). VEGF immunoreactivity was significantly enhanced in CB tissues from the children (7.2 ± 1.2%) and aged subjects (4.7 ± 1.7%) compared with the young adults (1.4 ± 0.7%). On the other hand, iNOS immunoreactivity was enhanced in CB tissues from the children (0.4 ± 0.04%) and young adult subjects (0.3 ± 0.02%) compared with the old subjects (0.2 ± 0.02%). Prevention of oxygen desaturation, reducing all causes of hypoxemia from neonatal life to aging would decrease the incidence of diseases in the elderly population with lifespan extension.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2012-06-29
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4549-0_28