U. of Virginia team identifies genes responsible for coronary artery disease

Researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) have identified genes that are responsible for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death around the world.

According to a release by UVA Health, the disease affects more than 20 million Americans and is responsible for 25% of deaths in the nation. It is caused by the buildup of fatty plaques in the walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart. 

Researchers examined cells from 151 healthy heart transplant donors from different racial and ethnic backgrounds that provide information on gene activity in smooth muscle cells. The team identified specific gene variations responsible for harmful changes in cells that lead to plaque formation as well as atherosclerosis, which is responsible for CAD. 

The study showed the importance in smooth muscle cells between males and females and also between cells that were multiplying compared to those that were not.

“Current drugs that doctors prescribe work to reduce risk factors for heart disease, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs,” said Mete Civelek of UVA’s Center for Public Health Genomics and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “However, we need to identify drugs that target the disease where it develops. That is why it is important to find the genes responsible for the disease development in the arteries because that is where the plaques form.”

The team’s findings show there is a large amount of genes for the cardiovascular community to study. The hope is some of the genes will be targets of a new class of drugs that aim at plaque development in arteries, while also benefiting millions of patients. The study also touches upon molecular mechanisms that are responsible for CAD, while also leading to new treatments and better outcomes for patients.

“We expect that our findings will provide a rich catalog of genes for the cardiovascular community to study in years to come,” Civelek said.