In a new study from the University of Bristol, researchers found smoking cigarettes may increase the risk of a heart attack by activating a gene that affects blood clotting.
The study used data from over 14,000 individuals.
The scientists demonstrated that the activity of a gene, known as F2RL3, can be enhanced by smoking and that this gene, which is expressed on blood platelets, can, in turn, increase the risk of clotting events that lead to a heart attack.
A mechanism used by cells to control gene expression, known as DNA methylation, is a reversible process that changes the properties of DNA molecules.
Previous research found that cigarette smoking appears to cause changes to DNA, which could be one way that smoking predisposes to adverse health outcomes such as heart disease.
In the study, researchers discovered this was the case with the F2RL3 gene, whose protein (PAR4) is involved in activating platelets, the blood cells that help form blood clots.
Through analyzing smoking-related changes seen in this gene, they were able to see that reductions in DNA methylation at F2RL3 could contribute to the increased risk of a heart attack in smokers by changing the activity of platelets.
This work is vital in understanding how smoking can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks.
Crucially, whilst the changes at this gene appear to be reversible, the data showed that it can take many years for levels to return to normal after a person gives up smoking.
This finding, therefore, provides more evidence of the devastating impact smoking has on our bodies.
In addition, there are other genetic and non-genetic factors that can affect DNA methylation in a similar way and this means that our findings could also be relevant beyond smoking.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and common nutrient that is good for your heart rate.
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The study is published in Circulation Research, and was conducted by Professor Nic Timpson et al.
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