Abstract
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a principal inhibitor of fibrinolysis,
is induced in thrombotic, fibrotic, and cardiovascular diseases, which in turn primarily
afflict the older population. This induction of PAI-1 may play an important role in
the pathology of these diseases as PAI-1 can regulate the dissolution of fibrin and
also inhibit the degradation of the extracellular matrix by reducing plasmin generation.
PAI-1 expression is elevated in aged individuals and is significantly upregulated
in a variety of pathologies associated with the process of aging, including myocardial
and cerebral infarction, vascular (athero) sclerosis, cardiac and lung fibrosis, metabolic
syndromes (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance), cancer, and
inflammatory/stress responses. Thus, PAI-1 may play a critical role in the development
of aging-associated pathological changes. In addition, PAI-1 is recognized as a marker
of senescence and a key member of a group of proteins collectively known as the senescence-messaging
secretome. In this review, we highlight the role of PAI-1 in the pathophysiology of
aging and aging-associated disorders.
Keywords
PAI-1 - thrombosis - fibrosis - vascular sclerosis - metabolic syndrome