Scientists at the University of California, Riverside have discovered a tiny molecule in the liver that plays a big role in controlling cholesterol levels and heart disease.
This small RNA molecule, called tsRNA-Glu-CTC, was previously overlooked but now appears to be a key player in how the body makes cholesterol. The discovery could lead to a new way to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart problems.
Cholesterol is made in the liver, and keeping its levels in check is important for heart health. Too much cholesterol can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up in the arteries and slows down blood flow.
This increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly half of Americans between ages 45 and 84 may have atherosclerosis without knowing it.
The UC Riverside team used a special tool they developed, called PANDORA-seq, to search for hidden RNA molecules in liver tissue. They found that tsRNA-Glu-CTC made up more than 65% of all a certain type of small RNA in the liver and that its levels go up when cholesterol levels rise.
They also discovered that tsRNA-Glu-CTC increases the activity of a protein called SREBP2. This protein is like a switch that turns on the genes that make cholesterol.
When there is more tsRNA-Glu-CTC in the liver, SREBP2 becomes more active, which causes the body to produce more cholesterol. This leads to a higher risk of atherosclerosis, the hardening and clogging of the arteries.
To test whether they could stop this process, the researchers used a type of genetic tool called an antisense oligonucleotide, or ASO. This tool can block RNA molecules. When they used it to reduce tsRNA-Glu-CTC in mice, cholesterol levels dropped, and the mice showed less plaque buildup in their arteries.
This new method of lowering cholesterol works earlier in the process than current medicines like statins. Statins are widely used but act further down the line in the cholesterol-making process. By targeting tsRNA-Glu-CTC, scientists may be able to stop the cholesterol spike before it even begins.
Interestingly, the researchers also found that the natural form of tsRNA-Glu-CTC—which is chemically modified by the body—was better at regulating cholesterol than the lab-made version. This could help scientists create better drugs in the future.
While this study was mainly done in mice, the researchers also looked at blood samples from people. They found that people with higher levels of tsRNA-Glu-CTC also had higher cholesterol. This means the same mechanism may be at work in humans, not just in mice.
This is the first time scientists have shown that a tsRNA can directly affect cholesterol levels and heart disease. It opens up a new path for developing treatments to prevent heart attacks and strokes. More research is needed, but the discovery of tsRNA-Glu-CTC could lead to safer and more effective ways to keep hearts healthy.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
The study is published in Nature Communications.
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