Aging imposes a barrier for tissue regeneration. In the heart, aging leads to severe changes in cellular functions, which include increased cell death and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, fibroblast activation, impaired endothelial cell function and reduced innervation. Functionally, these cellular alterations result in impaired diastolic and later systolic function. The presentation will discuss how the altered cellular functions and cellular cross-talks during aging may contribute to a decline in repair and regeneration.
Further reading:
Vidal, Wagner et al, Transcriptional heterogeneity of fibroblasts is a hallmark of the aging heart JCI Insight. 2019 Nov 14;4(22):e131092.
Wagner et al, Ageing impairs the neuro-vascular interface in the heart. Science 2023
Tzahor E, Dimmeler, S. A coalition to heal-the impact of the cardiac microenvironment. Science 2022