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Aging is an independent risk factor for hypertension, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. However, detailed mechanisms linking aging to cardiovascular disease are unclear. We studied the aging effects on the role of perivascular adipose tissue and downstream vasoconstriction targets, voltage-dependent KV7 channels, and their pharmacological modulators (flupirtine, retigabine, QO58, and QO58-lysine) in a murine model. We assessed vascular function of young and old mesenteric arteries in vitro using wire myography and membrane potential measurements with sharp electrodes. We also performed bulk RNA sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests in mesenteric arteries and perivascular adipose tissue to elucidate molecular underpinnings of age-related phenotypes. Results revealed impaired perivascular adipose tissue-mediated control of vascular tone particularly via KV7.3–5 channels with increased age through metabolic and inflammatory processes and release of perivascular adipose tissue-derived relaxation factors. Moreover, QO58 was identified as novel pharmacological vasodilator to activate XE991-sensitive KCNQ channels in old mesenteric arteries. Our data suggest that targeting inflammation and metabolism in perivascular adipose tissue could represent novel approaches to restore vascular function during aging. Furthermore, KV7.3–5 channels represent a promising target in cardiovascular aging.

The anti-contractile effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is an important mechanism in the modulation of vascular tone in peripheral arteries. Recent evidence has implicated the XE991-sensitive voltage-gated Kv (KCNQ) channels in the regulation of arterial tone by PVAT. However, until now the in vivo pharmacology of the involved vascular Kv channels with regard to XE991 remains undetermined, since XE991 effects may involve Ca2+ activated BKCa channels and/or voltage-dependent Kv1.5 channels sensitive to diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (DPO-1). In this study, we tested whether Kv1.5 channels are involved in the control of mesenteric arterial tone and its regulation by PVAT. Our study was also aimed at extending our current knowledge on the in situ vascular pharmacology of DPO-1 and XE991 regarding Kv1.5 and BKCa channels, in helping to identify the nature of K+ channels that could contribute to PVAT-mediated relaxation. XE991 at 30 µM reduced the anti-contractile response of PVAT, but had no effects on vasocontraction induced by phenylephrine (PE) in the absence of PVAT. Similar effects were observed for XE991 at 0.3 µM, which is known to almost completely inhibit mesenteric artery VSMC Kv currents. 30 µM XE991 did not affect BKCa currents in VSMCs. Kcna5-/- arteries and wild-type arteries incubated with 1 µM DPO-1 showed normal vasocontractions in response to PE in the presence and absence of PVAT. Kv current density and inhibition by 30 µM XE991 were normal in mesenteric artery VSMCs isolated from Kcna5-/- mice. We conclude that Kv channels are involved in the control of arterial vascular tone by PVAT. These channels are present in VSMCs and very potently inhibited by the KCNQ channel blocker XE991. BKCa channels and/or DPO-1 sensitive Kv1.5 channels in VSMCs are not the downstream mediators of the XE991 effects on PVAT-dependent arterial vasorelaxation. Further studies will need to be undertaken to examine the role of other Kv channels in the phenomenon.