title: Biochemical and molecular aspects of vascular adrenergic regulation of blood pressure in the elderly.
abstract: Hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, arterial insufficiency, and atherosclerosis are common disorders in the elderly that lead to significant morbidity and mortality. One common factor to these conditions is an age-related decline in vascular beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated function and subsequent cAMP generation. Presently, there is no single cellular factor that can explain this age-related decline, and thus, the primary cause of this homeostatic imbalance is yet to be identified. However, the etiology is clearly associated with an age-related change in the ability of beta-adrenergic receptor to respond to agonist at the cellular level in the vasculature. This paper will review what is presently understood regarding the molecular and biochemical basis of age-impaired beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling. A fundamental understanding of why β-AR-mediated vasorelaxation is impaired with age will provide new insights and innovative strategies for the management of multiple clinical disorders.
authors.affiliation: Portland VA Medical Center and Research Service-RD 26, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 1034, Portland, OR 97201, USA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Schutzer
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mader