Aging is an established risk factor for vascular diseases, but vascular aging itself may contribute to the progressive deterioration of organ function. Here, we show in aged mice that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling insufficiency, which is caused by increased production of decoy receptors, may drive physiological aging across multiple organ systems. Increasing VEGF signaling prevented age-associated capillary loss, improved organ perfusion and function, and extended life span. Healthier aging was evidenced by favorable metabolism and body composition and amelioration of aging-associated pathologies including hepatic steatosis, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, “inflammaging” (age-related multiorgan chronic inflammation), and increased tumor burden. These results indicate that VEGF signaling insufficiency affects organ aging in mice and suggest that modulating this pathway may result in increased mammalian life span and improved overall health.

衰老是血管疾病的既定危险因素，但血管衰老本身可能会导致器官功能的逐渐恶化。在这里，我们在老年小鼠中表明，由诱饵受体产生增加引起的血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF) 信号不足可能会导致多个器官系统的生理衰老。增加 VEGF 信号可以防止与年龄相关的毛细血管损失，改善器官灌注和功能，并延长寿命。更健康的衰老是通过有利的新陈代谢和身体成分以及衰老相关病理的改善来证明的，包括肝脂肪变性、肌肉减少症、骨质疏松症、“炎症”（与年龄相关的多器官慢性炎症）和增加的肿瘤负荷。