How Aging, Stress, and Depression Contribute to Vascular Disease: One Molecular Explanation

Aging, stress (particularly childhood trauma), and depression are associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, but how? An international consortium studied four large cohorts that involved more than 3000 people and identified one potentially important mechanism.

Aging, stress, and depression all were correlated not only with the incidence of cardiovascular disease but also with increased production (expression) of a protein called FKBP5. In vitro experiments in human cells showed that increased FKBP5 protein leads to increased production of NF-κB (a master molecule that activates inflammation). Diminishing the production of FKBP5 by gene editing, and blocking the action of FKBP5 by pharmacological inhibitors, both greatly dimini…