Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, despite significant advances in medical science.
Doctors have long relied on managing diabetes, controlling blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol with medications like aspirin and statins to combat cardiovascular diseases.
Yet, heart attacks remain a significant threat to many, even when these risk factors are well-managed.
However, a study from the University of Michigan has opened a new chapter in the fight against heart disease, offering hope for innovative treatments.
The research team has discovered a protein, known as soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), which plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis and kidney disease.
Atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, is a condition that affects over a billion people worldwide and is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.
The discovery that suPAR, a protein produced by the bone marrow and acting as a regulator of the immune system, actually causes atherosclerosis is a major breakthrough.
For years, suPAR has been recognized as a marker indicating cardiovascular disease, but this study is the first to show that high levels of suPAR directly lead to atherosclerosis.
The researchers analyzed data from over 5,000 individuals without known heart disease and found that those with higher levels of suPAR were significantly more likely to develop atherosclerosis and experience heart-related events, regardless of other risk factors.
Further investigation through a genetic study involving 24,000 people revealed a specific genetic variant in the gene that codes for suPAR.
Individuals with this variant had elevated suPAR levels and were more prone to atherosclerosis, as confirmed by a comprehensive analysis using data from 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank and two other large datasets.
This genetic evidence strongly supports the notion that high suPAR levels are a cause of atherosclerosis.
In experiments with mice, the researchers observed that those with high suPAR levels developed more atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries compared to mice with normal levels of suPAR.
This experimental data, combined with clinical and genetic findings, points to suPAR as a key factor in the development of heart disease.
What makes this study truly remarkable is the comprehensive approach it takes, combining clinical data, genetic insights, and experimental evidence to identify suPAR as a culprit in heart disease.
This opens up new avenues for treatment, especially since traditional therapies targeting atherosclerosis do not affect suPAR levels.
The research team is now exploring ways to safely reduce suPAR levels as a strategy to prevent and treat heart disease.
This discovery is particularly relevant given the strong link between kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
With one in seven Americans affected by kidney disease and a significant overlap between those suffering from kidney and heart diseases, targeting suPAR could lead to better health outcomes for millions.
The study by Salim Hayek and colleagues not only shines a light on a novel cause of heart disease but also offers a beacon of hope for developing new treatments.
As we learn more about suPAR and its impact on heart health, we stand on the brink of potentially transformative advances in cardiovascular medicine.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to higher risk of heart failure, and results showing Blackcurrants could improve artery functions, blood pressure in older people.
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