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A vicious cycle in atherosclerosis

Aldons J Lusis1

  • 1Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Cell
|March 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Clonal hematopoiesis, the expansion of blood cell clones, significantly increases heart disease risk. Atherosclerosis, a condition causing hardened arteries, appears to drive this expansion by stimulating stem cell growth.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Hematology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), the presence of expanded somatic blood cell clones, is linked to a doubled risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • The underlying mechanisms connecting CH to cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis and the development of clonal hematopoiesis.
  • To elucidate the role of stem cell proliferation in mediating the link between atherosclerosis and CH.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mouse model to study the effects of atherosclerosis on hematopoietic stem cells.
  • Employed genetic sequencing and lineage tracing to identify and quantify expanded clones.

Main Results:

  • Atherosclerosis was found to significantly increase stem cell proliferation in the bone marrow.
  • This increased proliferation directly contributed to the expansion of somatic blood cell clones, characteristic of CH.
  • The study provides direct evidence linking a common cardiovascular condition to a key driver of CH.

Conclusions:

  • Atherosclerosis is a significant stimulus for stem cell proliferation, driving the development of clonal hematopoiesis.
  • Understanding this link may offer new therapeutic targets for preventing cardiovascular events in individuals with CH.

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