Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death around the world. One of the most common forms is coronary artery disease, which happens when fatty deposits, known as plaque, build up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
As the arteries become narrower, it becomes harder for blood and oxygen to reach the heart muscle. This raises the risk of chest pain, heart attacks and other serious health problems. Although modern medicine has improved treatment, scientists are still searching for better ways to prevent the disease before it becomes life-threatening.
A new study from researchers at the University of Virginia Health has uncovered an important clue that could one day lead to new treatments. The research was published in the journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. The team wanted to better understand how certain cells inside blood vessels behave during heart disease.
These cells are called smooth muscle cells. Under normal conditions, they help keep blood vessels strong and healthy. They can also form a protective covering over plaque inside the arteries. This covering helps keep the plaque stable, making it less likely to break open and cause a heart attack or stroke.
However, scientists have known for some time that these same cells do not always remain protective. In some people, they change their behaviour and begin helping plaque grow instead of controlling it. Until now, researchers have not fully understood why this change happens.
To investigate the mystery, doctoral researcher Noah Perry studied smooth muscle cells collected from heart transplant donors. By examining the activity of thousands of genes, he searched for clues that could explain why the cells sometimes switch from being helpful to harmful.
The team discovered that the change may be linked to the way the body handles nitrogen and stores energy as glycogen, a form of stored sugar. These biological processes appear to influence how the cells behave. The researchers also found evidence that mannose, a naturally occurring type of sugar, could play an important role in triggering these changes.
Although the findings are promising, the scientists say more research is needed before they can prove exactly how mannose affects the cells. Future studies will explore whether changing these biological pathways could stop the harmful transformation before plaque becomes more dangerous.
If this approach works, it could open the door to new treatments for coronary artery disease. Current care focuses on lowering cholesterol, controlling blood pressure, encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing other risk factors. A treatment that prevents artery cells from becoming harmful could provide another powerful way to protect the heart.
Lead researcher Dr. Mete Civelek said heart disease continues to affect millions of people worldwide, showing why new discoveries are urgently needed. Together with Noah Perry, Diana Albarracin and Redouane Aherrahrou, the team hopes their work will eventually help doctors develop safer and more effective treatments.
The study also reminds us that heart disease is a complex condition involving many different cells and biological processes. Each new discovery helps scientists better understand how the disease develops and how it may be stopped earlier.
While this research is still at an early stage, it offers fresh hope that future therapies could reduce the number of heart attacks and save lives.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
