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 have discovered that the speed of gene transcription within endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, may serve as a new target for treating vascular diseases. Atherosclerosis, a condition where plaques accumulate in blood vessel walls and can lead to heart attacks or strokes, has been shown to be influenced by the rate at which these cells alter their genetic information into RNA.
By targeting a protein complex called the super elongation complex (SEC) that accelerates this transcription process, researchers were able to slow the progression of atherosclerosis in both human cells and animal models. Inhibition of the SEC complex reduced the transformation of endothelial cells into a pathological state, preserved the function of vascular cells, and decreased the formation of dangerous plaques in mice.
This discovery suggests that modulating gene transcription speed could offer a novel therapeutic approach for vascular diseases, including unstable atherosclerotic plaques. However, the potential clinical use of this strategy remains to be determined.
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