The role of IGF-1/GH in the aging process and the development of age-related diseases

One of the most important trends in geroscience is the search for the biomechanisms of aging and geroprotective methods. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the role of age-related decline in IGF-1 levels; processes that start with a decrease in the activity of the GH/IGF-1 axis. IGF-1 levels correlate differently with many age-associated diseases: diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular disease. A decrease in the level of IGF-1 and growth hormone in the elderly can contribute to the deterioration of the course of some pathologies, and also have a protective effect in the occurrence of different nosologies. The possibility of slowing down aging with the help of IGF-1 in basic research led to research aimed at studying the possibility of using IGF-1 preparations and growth hormone in clinical practice to slow down aging. We have studied the literature on the Pubmed platform, Scopus for the past 10 years in order to find some new information regarding influence of IGF-1 on aging, about the association between IGF-1 levels and major age-related diseases. We analyzed data of publications on the role of IGF-1 in aging and the development of age-related diseases. The search was carried out using key words: IGF-1, growth hormone, aging, the review included data from more than 60 publications

Association of the AGT, ACE, NOS3 polymorphism with subclinical arterial wall changes and cardiovascular diseases risk factors

Background. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System activation (RAAS) and nitric oxide (NO) reduction lead to the changes in the arterial wall, which, in turn, create a favourable environment for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is only limited knowledge of the influence of proteins participating in the RAAS activation and providing NO bioavailability on the parameters of the arterial wall state (pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDVD), presence of atherosclerotic plaques) and risk factors of CVD. Aim. Finding the association between the AGT, ACE, NOS3 polymorphism and PWV, cIMT, EDV, presence of atherosclerotic plaques and risk factors of CVD in healthy subjects. Methods. Using intergroup analysis and models of multiple logistic regression, we examined the association of AGT с.521СТ polymorphism, AСE InsDel polymorphism, NOS3 с.894GT polymorphism with arterial wall changes and risk factors of CVD in 160 healthy people of different ages. Results. The CT genotype of AGT с.521СТ polymorphism was associated with lower levels of systolic blood pressure (BP) (p=0.013) and central systolic BP (p=0.029), higher level of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) (p=0.027). The DD genotype of ACE InsDel polymorphism was associated with a higher waist/hip ratio (p=0.044), lower level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.01), lower index of EDVD (p=0.042), higher incidence ofendothelial dysfunction (ED) (p=0.026). The GG genotype of NOS3 с.894GT polymorphism was associated with higher levels of central systolic BP (p=0.022) and central mean BP (p=0.033), total cholesterol (p=0.025), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.014) and IGF (p=0.042), higher incidence of ED (p=0.007), albuminuria (p=0.032) and insulin resistance (p=0.03). Conclusion. We have found the association of the AСE and NOS3 polymorphism with endothelial dysfunction and the metabolic status

ROLE OF INSULIN RESISTANCE AND ITS CORRECTION IN THE PROCESS OF VASCULAR AGING

Insulin resistance plays the main role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. It is also a major factor of the pathology associated with age, which leads to accelerated aging. Data about the role of insulin resistance and its correction in vascular aging are presented.</p

RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN-ALDOSTERONE SYSTEM AND REPLICATIVE CELLULAR SENESCENCE: THEIR INTERACTION DURING THE VASCULAR AGEING

The problem of vascular aging is discussed. Special attention among the signs of vascular aging is paid to the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system as a source of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as to its relation to replicative cellular senescence. Potential routes of exposure to these processes are also considered.</p

HEART AND AGE (PART II): CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF AGEING

Ageing is an inevitable process which affects quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Age-related cardiac changes reduce compensatory reserves of the heart and accelerate the disease development. Such changes in cardiac structure and function, observed in the absence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), are considered age-related. However, taking into account the high prevalence of CVD in the elderly, it is problematic to define the genuine cardiac ageing. This review discusses a range of subclinical cardiac conditions which are common in older people

Vascular ageing: main symptoms and mechanisms

The authors discuss major structural and functional vascular changes accompanying ageing, the mechanisms of their development, and potential methods of their correction

HEART AND AGE (PART III): MODIFYING AGEING PROCESSES

The share of elderly people in the general population has been steadily increasing. Age is one of the main risk factors (RFs) of cardiovascular disease. However, the current focus of preventive medicine is on modifiable RFs, such as arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking, while age is regarded as a nonmodifiable, non-correctable RF. This emphasises the importance of the identification of cardiac ageing mechanisms and potential modifying interventions. All the existing methods which target cardiac ageing processes have not been used in the clinical settings and require further research. The key intervention methods are described in the paper

HEART AND AGE (PART I): AGEING THEORIES AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES

Heart ageing is a complex process including multiple cellular and molecular-level changes and resulting in different ageing phenotypes within the same biological species. According to the existing ageing theories, the multiple interacting mechanisms of ageing include somatic mutations, telomere shortening, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial defects. The review presents the most accepted ageing theories and discusses morphological characteristics of heart ageing on subcellular, cellular, and organ levels

INSULIN RESISTANCE: GOOD OR BAD? DEVELOPMENT MECHANISMS AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH AGE-RELATED VASCULAR CHANGES

The authors discuss the mechanisms of insulin resistance (IR) development; the IR role in the development and progression of the major age-related vascular changes; IR and the transformation of vascular ageing into disease; and IR impact on life expectancy