People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have a higher risk of heart problems. CKD happens when the kidneys slowly stop working properly and can no longer filter the blood as they should.
This can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, which is one of the main causes of death in people with CKD.
Now, new research from the University of Miami is helping us understand why this link between kidney disease and heart disease exists.
Scientists have been studying very small structures in the body called extracellular vesicles, or sEVs. These are tiny bubble-like packets that cells use to send messages to each other.
In people with CKD, these sEVs seem to be sending harmful messages. The researchers found that the sEVs from CKD patients don’t send out enough helpful signals to protect the heart. Instead, they send out too much of a signal called VEGFA. This signal is known to be linked to heart problems.
When these sEVs reach blood vessel walls, they can cause the muscle cells there to change in a way that may lead to heart disease. This helps explain how kidney problems can lead to issues with the heart.
The good news is that the researchers also found a possible way to block the harmful VEGFA signal. In animal studies, stopping this signal helped reduce the risk of heart disease. This discovery might lead to new treatments in the future for people with CKD who are at risk of heart problems.
Another important part of the study looked at microRNAs. These are tiny pieces of genetic material that help protect against heart disease. In CKD patients, the sEVs had much lower levels of these protective microRNAs. This may be another reason why people with kidney disease are more likely to have heart trouble.
Doctors might one day be able to test for these microRNA levels in sEVs. This could help them predict who is at higher risk for heart disease and treat the problem early.
This research is exciting because it shows how tiny messages between cells may play a big role in health. Understanding these messages could help us find new ways to treat or even prevent heart disease in people with kidney problems.
If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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