Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death around the world. In the United States alone, coronary artery disease is responsible for about one in every four deaths.
This disease happens when fatty material called plaque builds up inside the arteries that carry blood to the heart.
Over time, the arteries become narrower and harder, making it difficult for blood to flow normally. When the blood supply becomes blocked, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health problems.
Because heart disease affects millions of people every year, scientists continue searching for better ways to understand the disease and find new treatments. Now, researchers from the University of Virginia Health have made an important discovery that may help explain why heart disease becomes worse in some people.
The research team was led by Dr. Mete Civelek from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The scientists focused on smooth muscle cells, which are special cells found inside blood vessel walls. These cells normally play an important protective role in the body.
When plaque starts building up inside arteries, smooth muscle cells can help form a strong covering over the plaque. This covering is often called a cap. A stable cap can reduce the chance of plaque breaking apart, which helps lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
However, doctors have long known that these same cells do not always stay protective. In some cases, smooth muscle cells begin behaving differently and may actually help the plaque grow larger and more dangerous. Scientists have been trying to understand why these cells suddenly change from being helpful to harmful.
To investigate this mystery, doctoral student Noah Perry studied smooth muscle cells taken from heart transplant donors. By carefully examining the cells, he tried to discover which genes and biological processes might control this change in behavior.
The researchers found evidence that the harmful changes in the cells may be connected to the way the body handles nitrogen and stores sugar. The body stores extra sugar in a form called glycogen, which acts as a source of energy. Problems with these processes may push the smooth muscle cells into a more dangerous state.
The team also discovered something especially interesting involving a natural sugar called mannose. Mannose is related to glucose, the sugar that gives the body energy.
The researchers believe mannose may play an important role in the way smooth muscle cells change during heart disease. Although the connection still needs more study, the finding gives scientists a new direction to explore.
This discovery could become very important in the future. If researchers can fully understand what triggers these harmful changes in smooth muscle cells, doctors may eventually be able to stop the process before severe heart disease develops.
Instead of only treating symptoms like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, future treatments might directly target the harmful changes happening inside artery walls.
Dr. Civelek explained that heart disease continues to affect people across the globe despite many advances in medicine.
Current treatments, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood pressure medicines, have already saved many lives. Still, many patients continue to develop serious heart problems, showing that more treatment options are still needed.
The research team included Noah Perry, Diana Albarracin, and Redouane Aherrahrou. Together, they hope their work will help scientists better understand the hidden biological changes behind heart disease and lead to safer and more effective therapies in the future.
The study also reminds people that lifestyle and nutrition continue to matter for heart health. Some previous studies have suggested that vitamin D may help reduce inflammation in the body, while vitamin K may help lower the risk of heart disease.
Healthy eating, regular exercise, avoiding smoking, and controlling blood pressure are still among the best ways to protect the heart.
Heart disease research is moving forward quickly, and discoveries like this give hope that future treatments could become more precise and more effective. By learning how blood vessel cells change over time, scientists are getting closer to understanding one of the world’s most dangerous diseases.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
The research was published in the journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
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