Figure 3.

The cascade of pathology in age-related cardiovascular disease. During aging, cell divisions lead to telomere shortening upon TERT inactivation. This results in the global alteration of gene expression. Combined with the subsequent damage accumulation in DNA and other cell components, this process leads to cell senescence and SASP, which ultimately accounts for cell and tissue dysfunction. Telomerase, being a pivotal link in the process, is a potentially effective point of intervention.