Coronary heart disease is a chronic disease that affects the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. It can lead to chest pain (angina), ischaemic heart disease, or heart attacks.
High cholesterol is the most commonly understood cause of atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis, scientists found a gene that likely plays a causal role in coronary disease independent of cholesterol levels.
The gene also likely has roles in related cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
In the study, the team found that the gene—called SVEP1—makes a protein that drives the development of plaque in the arteries.
In mice, animals missing one copy of SVEP1 had less plaque in the arteries than mice with both copies.
The researchers also selectively reduced the protein in the arterial walls of mice, and this further reduced the risk of atherosclerosis.
Evaluating human genetic data, the researchers found that genetic variation influencing the levels of this protein in the body correlated with the risk of developing plaque in the arteries.
Genetically determined high levels of the protein meant a higher risk of plaque development and vice versa.
Similarly, they found higher levels of protein correlated with a higher risk of diabetes and higher blood pressure readings.
This is not the first nonlipid gene identified that has been implicated in cardiovascular disease. But the exciting aspect of this discovery is that it lends itself better to developing future therapies.
According to the team, other genes previously identified as raising the risk of heart disease independent of cholesterol appear to have widespread roles in the body and are therefore more likely to have far-reaching undesirable side effects if blocked in an effort to prevent cardiovascular disease.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and flu and COVID vaccines may increase heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies that artificial sweeteners in food linked to higher risk of heart disease, and results showing calcium supplements may harm your heart health.
The study was published in Science Translational Medicine and conducted by Nathan O. Stitziel, et al.
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