Why do blood vessels age prematurely in people with COPD?

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of endothelial senescence in COPD and association with clinical readouts of vascular ageing

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease mainly affecting older adults who smoke. Heart and circulatory disease is the main cause of death in people with COPD. The two conditions frequently occur together yet the underlying mechanisms that link them are not well understood. Ageing of blood vessels (vascular ageing) contributes to the progression of heart and circulatory disease. Part of vascular ageing is senescence of endothelial cells – when the cells that line the inside surface of blood vessels stop dividing and growing. Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOEC) are known to repair damaged blood vessels and are found in our blood. Dr Paschalaki has shown that BOEC undergo more senescence in smokers and people with COPD than in non-smoking healthy people. Senescent BOEC cells cannot properly repair blood vessel damage. Dr Paschalaki will investigate the links between endothelial senescence, vascular ageing and heart and circulatory disease in COPD. The team will study the molecular biology of BOEC from people who are healthy or who have COPD. They will then compare these findings with the health of the individual’s blood vessels as determined by a non-invasive test performed on the fingertip. They also aim to construct 3D blood vessels made of BOEC to test drugs to prevent senescence of endothelial cells and the premature ageing of blood vessels. This could lead to new treatments for heart and circulatory disease in people with COPD.