EU-funded research has revealed that bottlenose dolphin blood serum can preserve arterial function in aged mice, suggesting protective elements against age-related cardiovascular decline. This finding stems from the "Arterial Aging" project, which investigates how marine mammals, known for their long lifespans and deep-diving abilities, maintain arterial health. The study incubated mouse arteries with serum from both dolphins and humans of varying ages. While human serum from older individuals impaired arterial function in the mouse arteries, dolphin serum consistently maintained robust arterial health, regardless of the donor's age. This indicates that circulating factors in dolphin blood may possess geroprotective qualities, offering a potential pathway for improving human cardiovascular well-being.
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally, with aging being the primary non-modifiable risk factor. The "Arterial Aging" project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, sought to understand the mechanisms behind age-related arterial dysfunction. Researchers were inspired by marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, some of which live for over 200 years and show a notable absence of age-related arterial diseases. Despite the physiological stresses of deep diving, like repeated cycles of tissue hypoxia-reoxygenation and altered shear stress, which can impair arterial function in humans, these marine animals appear to maintain healthy arteries. This resilience suggests evolutionary adaptations that could lead to novel strategies for enhancing human cardiovascular health. The research highlights the crucial role of the circulating milieu in age-related endothelial function and aims to identify targets and mechanisms for preventing and treating age-related arterial decline in humans by studying these protective factors in dolphins. Further research is exploring other whale species, like the Beluga whale, to deepen this understanding.