Vascular Ageing and Telomere Biology: the Role of Vitamin D3 Deficiency

Abstract

In addition to population ageing, one of the causes and most important problems facing the world today is the increase in age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which inevitably leads to the development of vascular wall changes and related micro- and macrovascular complications. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have pointed out to the role of glucose impairment in accelerating vascular wall changes, the speed and severity of these changes depends not only on environmental and genetic factors, but also on individual metabolic characteristics.

Among the many reasons for dissimilar rates of vascular alterations among patients with insulin resistance (IR) and T2DM is considered to be contributed by initially different «genetic protection» of the arteries from the influence of external negative factors. Replicative cell aging and its role in the development of vascular changes play an important role in these processes. Telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (AT) are two vital biomarkers known as the "molecular clock" that regulate the lifespan of cells and mark the process of replicative cellular aging.

The link between vitamin D3 deficiency and the development and prognosis of numerous chronic non-communicable diseases has become a topic of significant interest in the world's scientific literature. Vitamin D3 is known to be involved in maintaining immune homeostasis, and its role in the polymorphism of enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory processes is important. Recent literature has demonstrated the role of vitamin D not only in regulating calcium levels, but also in leveling chronic systemic inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing risk of T2DM development, obesity and autoimmune damage β-pancreatic cells, cardiovascular risk. The study of vitamin D influence on the development of main artery wall changes in T2DM and IR, and its association with telomere biology, holds significant relevance.