Longevity & AgingAtlas of 375,000 Cells Maps How Blood Vessel Linings Age
Researchers combined 34 public datasets into the Human Aging Endothelial Cell Atlas, covering more than 375,000 cells that line blood vessels, taken from 290 healthy donors and 12 tissues. Across organs, older vessel-lining cells showed more inflammation and senescence signals and weaker expression of genes that build new vessels, with veins showing the biggest drop. Older cells also showed altered extracellular matrix and mechanical-sensing programs, including more nuclear YAP in aged skin. The team defined a senescence gene signature in these cells, anchored by p21 and including MAFF, and confirmed it in cultured cells and progeria mice. It is a reference map for early vascular aging, not yet a clinical tool.
