Heart disease is one of the biggest health problems in the world. In the United States, about one out of every four deaths is caused by coronary artery disease. That’s why it’s so important to understand what causes it and how we can treat it better.
A team of researchers at the University of Virginia Health has made a major discovery that could help find new ways to fight this disease.
Dr. Mete Civelek and his team from the University of Virginia School of Medicine have been studying the cells that line our blood vessels. These are called smooth muscle cells. Normally, these cells help protect us by creating a covering, or cap, over plaque in the arteries. This cap can help prevent strokes or heart attacks.
But in some cases, these same cells seem to do the opposite. Instead of protecting us, they may actually help form more plaque and make the disease worse. The big question is: why do they change?
To find answers, a doctoral student named Noah Perry looked at smooth muscle cells taken from heart transplant donors. He wanted to find out which genes are responsible for this change in behavior. His study found that the change in the cells could be linked to problems with how the body uses nitrogen and stores sugar in the form of glycogen.
Even more interesting, the team discovered that a special kind of sugar called mannose might be involved. It could be a key part of why the cells go from helpful to harmful. However, the researchers say they need to do more studies to be sure about this connection.
This discovery is important because it shows that there might be a way to stop these cells from turning harmful. If doctors can figure out what causes the change, they may be able to stop it before it leads to serious heart problems. This could lead to new treatments that save lives.
Dr. Civelek says that heart disease affects people all around the world. While we already have useful treatments like lowering cholesterol and controlling blood pressure, we still need better options. His team—including Noah Perry, Diana Albarracin, and Redouane Aherrahrou—hopes that their work will help doctors find those new solutions.
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The research was published in the journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
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