Researchers identify speed of gene transcription as a new therapeutic target for vascular disease
Atherosclerosis develops when deposits known as plaques build up in the walls of blood vessels over many years. These plaques are particularly dangerous when they become unstable and rupture: Blood clots can form, blocking blood vessels and potentially causing a heart attack or stroke.
Researchers at Leipzig University's Faculty of Medicine have identified the speed of gene transcription as a potential new therapeutic target for vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. The study, published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, focused on endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels and form a barrier between the blood and the vessel wall.
During atherosclerosis, these cells undergo pathological transformations, losing their original identity and acquiring characteristics that contribute to plaque instability. The researchers discovered that the speed at which vascular cells transcribe their genetic information into RNA, specifically through a protein complex called the super elongation complex (SEC), plays a crucial role in this process.
By selectively blocking this process, the researchers were able to reduce pathological changes in cells and typical features of unstable plaques, offering a promising new avenue for treating vascular diseases.
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