Longevity & AgingBlocking METTL14 Slows Vascular Aging by Silencing a Key Inflammation Switch
Researchers at Harbin Medical University discovered that METTL14, an RNA methylation enzyme, drives vascular aging by chemically modifying and stabilizing TLR4 mRNA—a master inflammation trigger—in arterial endothelial cells. METTL14 levels were elevated in aged mice, aged humans, and senescent endothelial cells. Deleting or knocking down METTL14 specifically in endothelial cells reduced arterial stiffness, arterial wall remodeling, oxidative stress, and cellular senescence in multiple mouse models. Conversely, overexpressing METTL14 worsened these aging markers. Blood levels of both METTL14 and TLR4 correlated positively with atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis severity in human patients, suggesting METTL14 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy against vascular aging and related cardiovascular disease.
