Aging is associated with upregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and increased vascular inflammation. TNF is a major proinflammatory cytokine that contributes to both vascular inflammation and vascular leak syndrome (VLS). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the aging affects TNF-induced VLS. Vascular leak, histology, and cytokine assays were performed in young and aged groups of wild-type and TNF overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice. An aged group of TNF Tg mice showed substantially amplified VLS compared with young Tg mice. Age-related amplification of TNF-induced VLS appears to be related to local vascular fibrosis and the systemic upregulation of TNF and MCP-1 levels in older TNF Tg mice. Our finding suggests that chronic high-grade TNF exposure could mediate the severe vascular pathogenicity of VLS.
Keywords: Aging; TNF; VLS; Vascular leak syndrome.
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