Dangerous deposits in the blood vessels, known as plaques, pose a risk of heart attacks or strokes. A research team from the University Institute of Cardiogenetics led by DZHK scientist Dr Redouane Aherrahrou, in collaboration with international partners, has now been able to show that certain genes influence the stability of plaques and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study was published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes are among the most common causes of death worldwide. Dangerous deposits in the arteries, so-called atherosclerotic plaques, play a central role in this. A better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the stabilisation or destabilisation of these plaques is therefore of great importance.
The team led by Dr Redouane Aherrahrou has combined genetic data on heart attacks from the last twenty years with smooth muscle cells from blood vessels of 151 healthy heart transplant donors. These cells have an important function in the formation and stabilisation of plaques.
New insights through modern bioinformatics methods
"In our study, we were able to show that genetic differences can influence the release of proteins that contribute to the stabilisation of atherosclerotic plaques," explains Dr Aherrahrou. "What is particularly exciting is that we were able to gain new insights by combining the information about these proteins with genetic data using modern bioinformatics methods."
The research team found several genetic variants that increase the risk of a heart attack. A specific variant in the LTBP1 gene is particularly interesting, as increased activity of this gene leads to more stable plaques. "Regulating the LTBP1 gene could be a promising future therapeutic option," says Dr Aherrahrou.
These findings are not only important for science, but could also have a significant impact on the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. "Our research offers new approaches for identifying and treating patients at higher risk of cardiovascular disease," summarises Dr Aherrahrou.
Original publication: Genetic Variants Influencing Protein Secretion in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Their Impact on Cardiovascular Disease (Aherrahrou et al., 2024)
Source: press release University of Lübeck (in German only)
