Endothelial Cell Senescence and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Vascular Ageing

Apr 5, 2026Ageing research reviews

Aging of Blood Vessel Lining Cells Linked to Mitochondria Problems

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Longevity & Aging on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with age-related changes in mitochondrial function and metabolism.

Aging leads to reduced nitric oxide availability and increased oxidative stress in endothelial cells.
Impaired vasodilatory capacity and pro-inflammatory activation are linked to shifts in energy production and substrate use.
Cellular senescence in endothelial cells may result from cumulative metabolic and mitochondrial stress.
Senescent endothelial cells contribute to vascular aging by promoting chronic inflammation and oxidative signaling.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is connected to disrupted energy production and elevated reactive oxygen species, worsening endothelial health.
Mitochondria-driven metabolic decline could represent a significant target for therapeutic interventions in age-related vascular issues.

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The vascular endothelium performs numerous regulatory functions that impact inflammatory responses, thrombosis, vascular tone and angiogenesis. Endothelial dysfunction is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of various human diseases, either as a primary trigger or as a consequence of organ damage. This review examines how ageing reshapes endothelial cell metabolism and mitochondrial function, progressively undermining endothelial homeostasis and resilience. Age-related endothelial alterations, including reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, heightened oxidative stress, impaired vasodilatory capacity and pro-inflammatory activation, arise from coordinated shifts in energy production, substrate utilization and redox signaling. In this context, cellular senescence, a stable arrest of the cell cycle accompanied by distinct metabolic, secretory and inflammatory changes, appears to be an important response to cumulative metabolic and mitochondrial stress. Senescent endothelial cells not only reflect this stress burden but also actively propagate dysfunction through sustained pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant signalling, thereby accelerating vascular ageing. We highlight the central role of mitochondria in these events. Age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts bioenergetics, enhances reactive oxygen species generation and fuels chronic low-grade inflammation, amplifying endothelial decline. By bringing together current evidence-based knowledge on endothelial cell bioenergetics, mitochondrial impairment and metabolic reprogramming, this review identifies mitochondria-driven metabolic deterioration as a key mechanism underlying endothelial ageing and underscores mitochondrial metabolism as a promising, yet underexploited, therapeutic target in age-related vascular dysfunction.

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Endothelial Cell Senescence and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Vascular Ageing

Abstract

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