Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death around the world. In the United States alone, it is responsible for about one in every four deaths.
Although doctors have made great progress in treating heart problems, many people still develop serious conditions that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening complications.
One of the most common forms of heart disease is coronary artery disease. This condition develops when fatty deposits, known as plaque, build up inside the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
Over time, the plaque can narrow the arteries and make it harder for blood to flow. If a plaque suddenly breaks open, it can form a blood clot that completely blocks blood flow, causing a heart attack. Understanding why plaque develops and grows is one of the biggest challenges in heart disease research.
Now, researchers at the University of Virginia Health have made an important discovery that may help scientists better understand how coronary artery disease develops. Their findings reveal that certain cells inside blood vessel walls can change their behavior in ways that may contribute to the growth of dangerous plaque.
Inside every artery are smooth muscle cells. These cells play a very important role in keeping blood vessels healthy. They help blood vessels maintain their shape, strength, and flexibility. They also help regulate blood flow throughout the body.
For many years, scientists believed that smooth muscle cells mainly protected the arteries. One of their helpful jobs is forming a protective cap over plaque deposits. This cap can help prevent plaque from breaking apart and causing blockages that lead to heart attacks or strokes.
However, researchers have also discovered that smooth muscle cells do not always behave in a protective way. In some cases, they can change into a different state and begin contributing to plaque growth.
Instead of protecting the artery, they may help the disease progress. Scientists have long wondered why this change happens and what triggers these normally healthy cells to become harmful.
To investigate this question, a research team led by Dr. Mete Civelek and graduate student Noah Perry studied smooth muscle cells obtained from heart transplant donors. The researchers carefully examined the activity of genes inside these cells to identify factors that might influence their behavior.
Their analysis uncovered an unexpected connection involving nitrogen and glycogen metabolism. Glycogen is a stored form of sugar that the body keeps as a source of energy. Nitrogen is also involved in many important biological processes that help cells function properly.
The researchers found that when smooth muscle cells had problems processing nitrogen and glycogen, the cells were more likely to behave in unhealthy ways. This discovery suggests that changes in the way these cells use energy and nutrients may influence whether they protect the arteries or contribute to disease.
One sugar molecule, known as mannose, appeared to play a particularly important role. Mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that is involved in several biological functions. The researchers believe that changes involving mannose may help drive the transformation of smooth muscle cells from protective cells into cells that encourage plaque growth.
Although more research is needed, this finding offers scientists a new direction for studying coronary artery disease. By understanding the processes that trigger these cellular changes, researchers may eventually develop treatments that prevent smooth muscle cells from becoming harmful.
The discovery is important because current treatments for coronary artery disease mainly focus on reducing risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and inflammation.
These approaches can be very effective, but they do not completely eliminate the risk of heart disease. Many patients continue to develop plaque buildup despite receiving standard treatments.
According to Dr. Civelek, additional treatment options are needed to better address the underlying causes of coronary artery disease. The newly identified pathways involving nitrogen, glycogen, and mannose may provide potential targets for future therapies.
The research also highlights how complex heart disease really is. Plaque buildup is not simply a matter of cholesterol accumulating in the arteries. It involves a complicated interaction between different types of cells, genes, nutrients, and biological signals. Even small changes inside artery cells can have major effects on long-term heart health.
While scientists continue investigating these mechanisms, there are already several proven ways people can reduce their risk of heart disease. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, managing stress, controlling blood pressure, and keeping cholesterol levels within recommended ranges can all help protect the heart.
Researchers are also exploring how nutrients and vitamins may influence heart health. Some studies suggest that vitamin D may help reduce inflammation, while vitamin K has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, people should always consult their healthcare providers before starting supplements.
The new findings provide another piece of the puzzle in understanding heart disease. By learning exactly how artery cells change from helpful to harmful, scientists hope to develop better treatments that could slow, prevent, or even reverse coronary artery disease in the future.
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.
The study was published in the journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
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