Atherosclerosis, characterized by lipid-rich plaques in the arterial wall, is an age-related disorder and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. However, the specific mechanisms remain complex. Recently, emerging evidence has demonstrated that senescence of various types of cells, such as endothelial cells (ECs), vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), macrophages, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) contributes to atherosclerosis. Cellular senescence and atherosclerosis share various causative stimuli, in which dyslipidemia has attracted much attention. Dyslipidemia, mainly referred to elevated plasma levels of atherogenic lipids or lipoproteins, or functional impairment of anti-atherogenic lipids or lipoproteins, plays a pivotal role both in cellular senescence and atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for dyslipidemia-induced cellular senescence during atherosclerosis, with a focus on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its modifications, hydrolysate of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), respectively. Furthermore, we describe the underlying mechanisms linking dyslipidemia-induced cellular senescence and atherosclerosis. Finally, we discuss the senescence-related therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis, with special attention given to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of promising geroprotectors as well as anti-senescence effects of current lipid-lowering drugs.
Keywords: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; atherosclerosis; dyslipidemia; endothelial cells; macrophages; senescence; vascular smooth muscle cells.
© 2022 The Authors. Biological Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Cambridge Philosophical Society.