Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Deborah D. Chin, Christopher Poon, Jonathan Wang, Johan Joo, Victor Ong, Zhangjingyi Jiang, Kayley Cheng, Anastasia Plotkin, Gregory A. Magee, Eun Ji Chung
Summary: The delivery of miR-145 micelles to VSMCs shows promise in mitigating atherosclerosis progression by altering cell phenotypes and reducing plaque growth. In mouse experiments, miR-145 micelles significantly inhibited the advancement of atherosclerosis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Jiang, Hai-Yan Qian
Summary: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory debris in the arterial wall, leading to gradual occlusion of the arterial lumen. Despite therapeutic advances, AS remains the most common cause of cardiovascular diseases and the main mechanism of death and disability worldwide. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a crucial role in AS, with remarkable plasticity and involvement in various processes such as phenotypic transformation, proliferation, migration, calcification, and apoptosis. Transcription factors and complex interactions of conserved cis-regulatory elements are key in the transcriptional regulation of VSMC genes, and manipulating transcription factors can regulate the development of atherosclerotic lesions.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mandy O. J. Grootaert, Martin R. Bennett
Summary: Vascular smooth muscle cells play a key role in atherosclerosis by forming a protective fibrous cap and exhibiting various phenotypes that can affect plaque formation and stability. They are a larger proportion of atherosclerotic plaques than previously thought and their plasticity is regulated by various mechanisms.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Till Seime, Asim Cengiz Akbulut, Moritz Lindquist Liljeqvist, Antti Siika, Hong Jin, Greg Winski, Rick H. van Gorp, Eva Karlof, Mariette Lengquist, Andrew J. Buckler, Malin Kronqvist, Olivia J. Waring, Jan H. N. Lindeman, Erik A. L. Biessen, Lars Maegdefessel, Anton Razuvaev, Leon J. Schurgers, Ulf Hedin, Ljubica Matic
Summary: Calcification is a key feature of late-stage atherosclerosis, and recent research has shown that the expression of PRG4 is correlated with vascular remodeling and intimal calcification. Experimental models suggest that PRG4 plays a role in SMC function and osteogenic phenotype, impacting atherosclerotic plaque stability. Further investigations are needed to better understand the mechanisms behind PRG4's effects on calcification and SMC behavior.
Review
Cell Biology
Genmao Cao, Xuezhen Xuan, Jie Hu, Ruijing Zhang, Haijiang Jin, Honglin Dong
Summary: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are highly plastic and can switch into synthetic VSMCs to repair vascular injury. Multiple phenotypes of VSMCs have been discovered in vascular aging, atherosclerosis, and aortic aneurysm. The transformation of VSMCs is regulated by various factors such as transcription factors, growth factors, and non-coding RNAs.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2022)
Review
Hematology
Ashish Misra, Rajan Rehan, Alexander Lin, Sanjay Patel, Edward A. Fisher
Summary: Clonal expansion plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis, particularly in smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Recent studies have revealed the contribution of clonal expansion to disease pathology and provided innovative directions for future therapies of atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Menno P. J. de Winther, Magnus Back, Paul Evans, Delphine Gomez, Isabel Goncalves, Helle F. Jorgensen, Rory R. Koenen, Esther Lutgens, Giuseppe Danilo Norata, Elena Osto, Lea Dib, Michael Simons, Konstantinos Stellos, Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Holger Winkels, Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat, Claudia Monaco
Summary: The advent of single-cell biology has opened up new possibilities for understanding human biological processes and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). By analyzing CVD samples at the single-cell level, new cell communities that play a role in disease development can be identified, leading to new therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the single-cell analysis of atherosclerotic plaques, highlighting the current understanding of cellular subpopulations and their heterogeneity and plasticity in relation to clinically relevant features. The clinical impact of single-cell technologies in CVD patient care is emphasized, calling for multidisciplinary and international collaborative efforts.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michael Hutton, Madeleine Frazer, Alexander Lin, Sanjay Patel, Ashish Misra
Summary: This review explores the potential of vascular cell plasticity as a target for therapeutic intervention in atherosclerosis. The phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and macrophages within atherosclerotic plaques plays a crucial role in plaque stability and disease burden. The development of treatments targeting deleterious phenotypes or promoting pro-healing phenotypes shows promise in reducing cardiovascular events.
CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gabriel Hoi-Huen Chan, Enoch Chan, Carsten Tsun-Ka Kwok, George Pak-Heng Leung, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Sai-Wang Seto
Summary: Ageing is a risk factor for degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The tumor suppressor gene p53 may play a regulatory role in vascular remodeling, atherosclerosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Further studies are needed to fully understand the effects of p53 in cardiovascular function and its therapeutic potential.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Floriana Maria Farina, Simone Serio, Ignacio Fernando Hall, Stefania Zani, Giada Andrea Cassanmagnago, Montserrat Climent, Efrem Civilini, Gianluigi Condorelli, Manuela Quintavalle, Leonardo Elia
Summary: DOT1L inhibition in VSMCs significantly reduces atherosclerosis progression by directly modulating Nf-kappa B1 and Nf-kappa B2 transcription, which are master regulators of inflammation inducing expression of CCL5 and CXCL10 cytokines, key in atherosclerosis development. DOT1L could be a promising therapeutic target for vascular diseases as its inhibition reduces plaque progression.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sainan Liu, Li Li, Huanran Wang, Jianying Tan, Lai Wei, Yajun Weng, Junying Chen
Summary: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease involving various cell types and biomolecules, and its complex biological environment poses challenges for research and treatment. The treatment of atherosclerosis primarily focuses on blocking or inhibiting factors affecting plaque formation and development, as well as cardiovascular stent intervention. The treatment of atherosclerosis based on molecular biology and cell biology is becoming a research hotspot in the coming decades.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabienne Burger, Daniela Baptista, Aline Roth, Rafaela Fernandes da Silva, Fabrizio Montecucco, Francois Mach, Karim J. Brandt, Kapka Miteva
Summary: The study demonstrated that oxLDL-activated monocytes can directly affect VSMCs in a co-culture system, leading to reduced expression of certain markers and upregulation of others, as well as activation of caspase 1, secretion of IL-1 beta, and pyroptosis in VSMCs. The activation of VSMC NLRP3 inflammasome by monocytes may play a detrimental role in atherosclerotic plaque stability in human atherosclerosis, as evidenced by findings in both mice and human atherosclerotic plaques.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karim J. Brandt, Fabienne Burger, Daniela Baptista, Aline Roth, Rafaela Fernandes da Silva, Fabrizio Montecucco, Francois Mach, Kapka Miteva
Summary: The study revealed the crucial role of GDF10 in the phenotypic switch of VSMCs, which may have a detrimental impact on the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and increase the risk of carotid artery disease (CAD) events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alessandro L. Gallina, Urszula Rykaczewska, Robert C. Wirka, April S. Caravaca, Vladimir S. Shavva, Mohamad Youness, Glykeria Karadimou, Mariette Lengquist, Anton Razuvaev, Gabrielle Paulsson-Berne, Thomas Quertermous, Anton Gistera, Stephen G. Malin, Laura Tarnawski, Ljubica Matic, Peder S. Olofsson
Summary: Glutamate receptors and related enzymes were identified in VSMCs from human atherosclerotic lesions, with AMPA-type glutamate receptors playing a role in VSMC phenotypic modulation. Lower mRNA levels of GRIA1 and GRIA2 in atherosclerotic lesions were associated with adverse clinical events, suggesting the importance of further exploring neurotransmitter signaling in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lingfeng Luo, Changhao Fu, Caitlin F. Bell, Ying Wang, Nicholas J. Leeper
Summary: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) clonality plays a significant role in its development. Currently, there are unanswered questions regarding SMC clonality, such as the existence of stem-like progenitor cells and how cells within a clone determine their phenotype. Understanding these aspects is important for the development of novel approaches to treating atherosclerosis.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)