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Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
09:06

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice

Published on: February 20, 2019

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Epigenetic modulation in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease

Mikaela M Byrne1, Ross T Murphy2, Anthony W Ryan1

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital Dublin, Ireland.

Frontiers in Genetics
|November 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic therapies, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and dietary compounds like sulforaphane, show promise for treating cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Further research is needed to understand their role in plaque rupture.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death globally, with atherosclerosis driving major events like heart attack and stroke.
  • Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, are implicated in CVD pathogenesis and represent potential therapeutic targets.
  • The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cardiovascular disease and plaque rupture is an emerging area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current and potential epigenetic therapeutics for cardiovascular disease.
  • To highlight the role of miRNAs and dietary epigenetic modifiers in managing atherosclerosis and plaque stability.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epigenetic mechanisms in cardiovascular disease.
  • Analysis of studies on microRNAs (miRNAs) in cardiovascular contexts.
  • Examination of dietary compounds like sulforaphane and protocatechuic aldehyde as epigenetic modulators.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial in regulating genes involved in cardiovascular disease.
  • Nutritional epigenetic modifiers, such as sulforaphane, can suppress inflammation via transcription factor activation.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have demonstrated roles in gene silencing, with potential applications in cardiovascular therapeutics.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic therapies offer novel strategies for cardiovascular disease treatment.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and dietary supplements represent promising avenues for future cardiovascular drug development.
  • Targeting epigenetic pathways may provide new approaches to prevent atherosclerosis progression and plaque rupture.

Keywords:
DNA methyltransferase inhibitionatherosclerosiscardiovascular diseaseepigenetic targeting agentshistone deacetylase inhibitionmicroRNA

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