Protein Target Shows Blood Pressure Links in Aging Vessels

Research identifies AGGF1 protein's role in hypertension development through aging blood vessels

Aging and hypertension in human blood vessels correlate with decreased AGGF1 protein expression. In mouse models, AGGF1 overexpression reduces blood pressure development by 25 months compared to normal mice, while AGGF1 underexpression causes hypertension by 11 months versus 18 months in control mice. The protein also reduces reactive oxygen species in cells and mitigates cellular senescence markers like γH2AX in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. AGGF1's effects on blood pressure depend on SESN2 protein regulation, as overexpressing SESN2 reverses early hypertension in AGGF1-deficient mice, while silencing SESN2 induces hypertension in AGGF1-overexpressing mice. Human aging data shows AGGF1 and SESN2 expression correlate.

This research, published in *Aging Cell*, demonstrates AGGF1's mechanistic role in blood pressure regulation through vascular aging. The findings are limited to male mouse models and human cell cultures, with no investigation into why AGGF1 declines with age. Current work does not involve human trials or clinical applications. This basic science may eventually inform hypertension research but does not currently impact treatment accessibility or availability for any population.

Source: Lifespan.io