Single Nuclei Sequencing of old and young mice hearts under senolytica (Ageing impairs the neuro-vascular interface in the heart)
Aging is a major risk factor for impaired cardiovascular health. The aging myocardium is characterized by microcirculatory and diastolic dysfunction and increased susceptibility to arrhythmias. Nerves align with vessels during development. However, the impact of aging on the cardiac neuro-vascular interface is entirely unknown. Here, we report that aging reduces nerve density specifically in the left ventricle and dysregulates vascular-derived neuro-regulatory genes. Aging leads to a down-regulation of miR-145 and de-repression of the neuro-repulsive factor Semaphorin-3A. miR-145 deletion, which increased Sema3a expression, or endothelial Sema3a overexpression reduced axon density, thus mimicking the observed aged heart phenotype. Removal of senescent cells, which accumulated with chronological age in parallel to the decline in nerve density, rescued age-induced denervation, reduced Sema3a expression, preserved heart rate variability and reduced electrical instability. These data suggest that senescence-associated regulation of neuro-regulatory genes is associated with reduced nerve density and, thereby, contributes to age-associated cardiac dysfunction.