Heart diseases, particularly coronary artery disease, claim numerous lives globally. With 25% of deaths in the United States attributed to this disease, it’s crucial to uncover its causes and find ways to combat it.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health have made a significant discovery regarding this, which could pave the way for better treatments.
Understanding Blood Vessel Behavior
Mete Civelek, a key researcher from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, highlights that the smooth muscle cells lining our blood vessels play an essential role in coronary artery disease.
These cells are protective, forming caps over plaque to prevent potential strokes.
However, sometimes these same cells seem to encourage plaque development, intensifying the disease’s progression. The question remains: Why?
The Role of Sugar and Nitrogen
To answer this question, Noah Perry, a doctoral student working with Civelek, examined smooth muscle cells from heart transplant donors.
His objective was to identify the genes responsible for the puzzling behavior of these cells.
His analysis suggested that the shift in the smooth muscle cells’ behavior, moving from protective to harmful, might be linked to issues related to the use of nitrogen and glycogen, our body’s sugar storage method.
Interestingly, a specific sugar, mannose, was flagged as a potential contributor or even trigger to these issues. However, the team believes that more in-depth research is needed to affirm this connection.
A Ray of Hope for Heart Patients
Recognizing the changes in the cells as they transition towards a disease state can provide intervention points for therapy. The primary aim is to understand what causes these smooth muscle cells to turn harmful.
If doctors can pinpoint the triggers, they can potentially find ways to prevent that shift. This discovery could usher in novel methods to treat and counteract coronary artery disease.
Civelek reiterates the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the global impact of coronary artery disease.
He stresses that while there are effective tools like cholesterol-lowering therapies and blood pressure control, there is still an urgent need for additional targets to reduce the disease’s toll.
The dedicated research team, including Perry, Diana Albarracin, Redouane Aherrahrou, and Civelek, continues to explore this avenue, hoping their findings can someday bring relief to millions affected by this debilitating disease.
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The study was published in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
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