Abstract
Changes in cellular Ca(2+) levels have major influences on vascular function and blood pressure regulation. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) orchestrate vascular activity in distinct ways, often involving highly specific fluctuations in Ca(2+) signalling. Ageing is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but the impact of ageing per se on vascular Ca(2+) signalling has received insufficient attention. We reviewed the literature for age-related changes in Ca(2+) signalling in relation to vascular structure and function. Vascular tone dysregulation in several vascular beds has been linked to abnormal expression or activity of SMC voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, Ca(2+) -activated K(+) channels or TRPC6 channels. Some of these effects were linked to altered caveolae density, microRNA expression or 20-HETE abundance. Intracellular store Ca(2+) handling was suppressed in ageing mainly via reduced expression of intracellular Ca(2+) release channels, and Ca(2+) reuptake or efflux pumps. An increase in mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, leading to oxidative stress, could also play a role in SMC hypercontractility and structural remodelling in ageing. In ECs, ageing entailed diverse effects on spontaneous and evoked Ca(2+) transients, as well as structural changes at the EC-SMC interface. The concerted effects of altered Ca(2+) signalling on myogenic tone, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, and vascular structure are likely to contribute to blood pressure dysregulation and blood flow distribution deficits in critical organs. With the increase in the world's ageing population, future studies should be directed at solving specific ageing-induced Ca(2+) signalling deficits to combat the imminent accelerated vascular ageing and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.