New gene influencing oxidation in atherosclerosis found
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol, plays an important role in atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Oxidation of LDL is essential in the process that blocks the blood vessel.
An international study has found a new gene variation that influences LDL oxidation. People carrying the protective variant had less oxidized LDL in their blood stream.
“Our study found a new gene variation that could be used to mark elevated oxidized LDL levels in patients,” says the corresponding author, researcher Kari-Matti Mäkelä from University of Tampere School of Medicine. Kari-Matti Mäkelä kertoo.
The next step is to study how this variation acts together with smoking and whether it could be used to predict for example heart attacks.
“The study is a part of the international AtheroRemo research consortium, which is led from Tampere, that allowed us to use high quality patient materials also from Europe,” the principal investigator, Professor of Clinical Chemistry, Terho Lehtimäki states.
From Finland the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) took part in the study.
An international study has found a new gene variation that influences LDL oxidation. People carrying the protective variant had less oxidized LDL in their blood stream.
“Our study found a new gene variation that could be used to mark elevated oxidized LDL levels in patients,” says the corresponding author, researcher Kari-Matti Mäkelä from University of Tampere School of Medicine. Kari-Matti Mäkelä kertoo.
The next step is to study how this variation acts together with smoking and whether it could be used to predict for example heart attacks.
“The study is a part of the international AtheroRemo research consortium, which is led from Tampere, that allowed us to use high quality patient materials also from Europe,” the principal investigator, Professor of Clinical Chemistry, Terho Lehtimäki states.
From Finland the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) took part in the study.
Oxidation of LDL and atherosclerosis
- The accumulation of LDL in the wall of blood vessels leads to the formation of fatty streaks.
- LDL is oxidized and eaten up by macrophages, which begins the process that eventually can block the vessel.
- The gene variation that was found marks the levels of oxidized LDL in the blood stream.
Article information:
Genome-Wide Association Study Pinpoints a New Functional ApoB Variant Influencing Oxidized LDL Levels but Not Cardiovascular Events: AtheroRemo Consortium Circ Cardiovac Genet (2012) doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.112.964965
The article can be found online
Additional information:
Researcher, BM, BSc Kari-Matti Mäkelä, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland, p. +358 3 3117 4051, kari-matti.makela@uta.fi
Press release from the University of Tampere 22.2.2012
University of Tampere, Kalevantie 4, FI-33014 University of Tampere, Finland, tel. +358 3 355 111
