Atherosclerosis is even more dangerous than you think

Atherosclerosis is considered to be a localized process, the consequences of which (primarily in the form of heart attacks and strokes) are determined by a violation of the blood supply to organs due to the formation of lipid plaques on the inner surface of the arteries, and the possibility of vascular thrombosis as a result of their separation. Scientists at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) and the University of North Carolina, working under the guidance of Dr. Rita Upmacis, have found that the formation of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with certain chemical reactions that have a detrimental effect on the lungs, liver and other organs.

The authors claim that the effects of atherosclerosis are much more generalized than previously thought. They believe that the results obtained cannot be stopped and it is necessary to study the possibilities of preventing the formation of harmful modifications of proteins in various organs and to develop new methods of treating the disease on their basis.

Scientists are getting closer to solving the root causes of the disease. One of the most promising areas of research is the study of the interaction of highly active nitrogen compounds and proteins. Under certain conditions, such interactions lead to the formation of nitrothyrosine, a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer and other diseases. However, very little is known about the connection of this compound with the development of atherosclerosis.

In experiments on mice with a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis, the authors demonstrated that a fat-rich diet leads to an increase in the level of nitrothyrosine in the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys of animals. No such changes were observed in mice kept on a normal diet. The authors believe that a fat-rich diet contributes not only to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, but also to the accumulation of toxic nitrothyrosine in proteins that make up various organs.

Scientists conducted an additional experiment on animals with atherosclerosis that do not have the iNOS gene responsible for the synthesis of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NO-synthase, NOS), the activity of which causes the accumulation of nitrothyrosine in proteins. According to the results of an earlier study, the removal of the iNOS gene suppresses the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. New data suggest that the absence of the iNOS gene contributes to a decrease in the accumulation of nitrothyrosine in proteins.

The data obtained by the authors support the hypothesis that iNOS is a potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis, and preventing the accumulation of nitrothyrosine in the lungs, liver and other organs can help in combating the systemic effects of this disease. According to the authors, the most difficult task is to create a drug that would block this mechanism without side effects: nitric oxide plays an important role, in particular, in regulating the functions of blood vessels and the immune system. They also note that the assessment of the accumulation of nitrothyrosine in the blood can potentially be used as a diagnostic test to monitor the course of atherosclerosis and the condition of organs.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily

15.04.2008