Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in the world. In the United States, it is responsible for about one out of every four deaths.
A serious type of heart disease is called coronary artery disease. This happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside the arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
When this buildup becomes too much, it can block the blood flow. If this is not treated, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. That’s why scientists are working hard to understand why this disease happens and how to stop it.
A new study from researchers at the University of Virginia Health has discovered something unexpected that could help in creating better treatments. They looked at how certain cells inside our blood vessels behave and how they might actually make the disease worse, instead of helping.
Inside the walls of our blood vessels, there are smooth muscle cells. These cells are normally good for our health. They make the blood vessels strong and help them stay flexible so blood can flow easily. In healthy arteries, these cells can also form a protective layer over the plaque, stopping it from breaking apart and causing a blockage.
But sometimes, these same cells start acting in a harmful way. Instead of helping, they actually help plaque grow bigger. This can make the disease worse. Scientists have been puzzled for years about why these cells suddenly change and stop protecting the arteries.
To find out more, a research team led by Dr. Mete Civelek and his student Noah Perry studied smooth muscle cells taken from heart transplant donors. They wanted to learn which genes could be causing these cells to change their behavior.
Their study found a link between how these cells use two things: nitrogen and glycogen. Glycogen is a type of sugar that the body stores and uses for energy. When the cells didn’t use nitrogen and glycogen properly, they started behaving in unhealthy ways.
One type of sugar, called mannose, seemed to be especially important. The researchers think this sugar might play a role in changing the smooth muscle cells from helpful to harmful. They still need to do more studies to be sure.
This discovery matters because it helps us understand the small changes that can lead to big health problems. If doctors and scientists can figure out what triggers smooth muscle cells to change, they might be able to stop it from happening. That could lead to new ways to treat or even prevent coronary artery disease.
Dr. Civelek says that while current treatments like lowering cholesterol and controlling blood pressure are helpful, they are not enough. More treatment options are needed to fight this serious disease.
The research team is continuing to study this process in more detail. They hope their work can lead to better ways to help people with heart disease in the future.
In the meantime, there are already steps people can take to protect their hearts. Some research suggests that vitamin D may help reduce swelling in the body, and vitamin K might cut the risk of heart disease by up to one-third.
Eating healthy foods, exercising often, and managing stress are also good for heart health. Scientists are still learning more every day about how our lifestyle choices can make a big difference.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
This study was published in a journal called Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
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