Research Highlight |
Featured
-
-
Research Highlight |
Disrupting a cell-specific miRNA–CXCR4 interaction is atheroprotective in mice
An approach that increases the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in vascular cells by targeting a microRNA-based repressive pathway attenuates atherosclerosis in mice and promotes atheroprotective functions in human and mouse vascular cells in vitro.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Heart disease causes sleep disturbances via neuroimmune mechanisms
A new study reveals that the disrupted sleep patterns that are frequently observed in patients with cardiac disease are driven by immune-mediated sympathetic denervation and dysfunction of the pineal gland, which leads to a decrease in the circulating levels of melatonin and subsequent sleep disruption.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
α-Myosin-specific CD8+ T cells drive ICI-related myocarditis
Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells specific for the cardiac protein α-myosin heavy chain have a key role in immune-checkpoint-inhibitor-associated myocarditis, according to a study published in Nature.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Gut bacterium protects against atherosclerosis by degrading BCAAs
A synthetic Ganoderma meroterpene derivative protects against obesity-associated atherosclerosis in mice by increasing the abundance of the gut commensal bacterium Parabacteroides merdae and increasing branched-chain amino acid degradation.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Macropinocytosis promotes foam cell formation and atherosclerosis
A new study has identified a scavenger receptor-independent mechanism of atherosclerosis development by showing that LDL uptake through macropinocytosis contributes to macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis development and that an FDA-approved drug that inhibits macropinocytosis inhibits atherosclerosis development in mice.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Age-related loss of Y chromosome in leukocytes linked to cardiac fibrosis
Haematopoietic mosaic loss of the Y chromosome, a phenomenon that frequently occurs with age, directly contributes to cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Targeting the adipose tissue to protect the heart
Treatment with atglistatin, an inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity, has cardioprotective effects against catecholamine-induced cardiac damage in mice, according to a new study. Atglistatin inhibited adipose ATGL activity but had no effect on cardiac ATGL, indicating that its cardioprotective effects are mediated by non-cardiac actions.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Modulating the gut microbiota with dietary interventions to protect against cardiometabolic disease
New evidence shows that both the diet composition and the feeding pattern modify the risk of cardiometabolic disease partly through alterations in the gut microbiota, suggesting that modulating the composition of the gut microbiota through dietary interventions might be a useful preventive and therapeutic strategy.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Treg cells promote plaque regression
A new study shows that regulatory T cells have essential roles in atherosclerotic plaque regression by promoting the resolution of plaque inflammation through suppression of macrophage and T cell pro-inflammatory responses and induction of a pro-resolving macrophage phenotype.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Review Article |
T cell subsets and functions in atherosclerosis
Accumulating evidence supports the critical role of T cells as drivers and modifiers of atherosclerosis. In this Review, Ley and colleagues describe the latest advances in our understanding of the role of T cell subsets in atherosclerosis, discuss the process of T cell homing to atherosclerotic plaques and highlight potential T cell-related therapies for atherosclerosis.
- Ryosuke Saigusa
- , Holger Winkels
- & Klaus Ley
-
Review Article |
The autonomic nervous system and cardiac arrhythmias: current concepts and emerging therapies
Neuromodulation therapy might be clinically useful in the management and prevention of lethal arrhythmias. In this Review, the authors discuss the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological basis for neuromodulation therapy, critically appraise the latest data on the clinical efficacy of this approach and highlight areas in the field of cardiac autonomic control that show the most promise for clinical translation.
- Neil Herring
- , Manish Kalla
- & David J. Paterson
-
Research Highlight |
Cholesterol efflux drives stem cell expansion in hypercholesterolaemia
AIBP-mediated cholesterol efflux promotes the specification of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in embryogenesis and induces adult HSPC expansion in hypercholesterolaemic conditions, mediated by SREBP2-regulated activation of Notch signalling.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
T cells in the gut promote CVD and slow metabolism
A subset of T cells present in the small intestine modulate systemic metabolism and contribute to cardiovascular disease by limiting the bioavailability of the incretin hormone GLP1.
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Review Article |
The role of adipose tissue in cardiovascular health and disease
This Review summarizes the current knowledge on the biology and regional variability of the adipose tissue, highlighting the molecular mechanisms controlling the crosstalk between the adipose tissue and the cardiovascular system. Current state-of-the-art techniques in adipose tissue imaging for cardiovascular risk stratification and the potential of the adipose tissue as a target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease are also described.
- Evangelos K. Oikonomou
- & Charalambos Antoniades
-
Review Article |
The interstitium in cardiac repair: role of the immune–stromal cell interplay
Research on cardiac repair and regeneration is shifting from a stem cell focus towards the dynamic interplay of stromal and immune cells of the cardiac interstitium. This Review provides new insights into the immunoregulatory functions of cardiac interstitial cells and their complex network of interactions, highlighting the therapeutic potential for cardiac disease.
- Elvira Forte
- , Milena Bastos Furtado
- & Nadia Rosenthal
-
Research Highlight |
Unravelling the atheroprotective mechanisms of LDL immunization
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
-
-
-
Review Article |
Hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor in autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the mechanisms that mediate this phenomenon are not fully elucidated. In this Review, Bartoloni and colleagues highlight the relationship between hypertension and autoimmune rheumatic diseases, focusing on the immune-mediated mechanisms that influence blood-pressure control.
- Elena Bartoloni
- , Alessia Alunno
- & Roberto Gerli
-
Research Highlight |
Novel target with antithrombotic potential and low bleeding risk
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Research Highlight |
Surprising role of cardiac macrophages in heart electrical conduction
- Irene Fernández-Ruiz
-
Review Article |
Monocytes and macrophages in abdominal aortic aneurysm
Inflammatory processes have a crucial role in abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic wall remodelling. This Review focuses on the involvement of monocytes and macrophages, summarizing current knowledge on their origin and the roles of distinct monocyte and macrophage subsets in AAA development and complications, and highlighting potential translational applications targeting monocytes and macrophages.
- Juliette Raffort
- , Fabien Lareyre
- & Ziad Mallat
-
Review Article |
Effects of dyslipidaemia on monocyte production and function in cardiovascular disease
Accumulating evidence has challenged the dogma of monocytes as short-lived macrophage precursors. Monocyte populations are heterogeneous and have subset-specific functions. This Review provides an updated view of the role of monocytes in cardiovascular disease and their relationship with macrophages, highlighting current theories on monocyte ontogeny, and discussing the effects of dyslipidaemia on monocyte production, phenotype, and function.
- Mohammed Shamim Rahman
- , Andrew J. Murphy
- & Kevin J. Woollard
-
-
Research Highlight |
Intestinal microbiota: “a new direction in cardiovascular research”
- Gregory B. Lim
-
Review Article |
Neural mechanisms of atrial arrhythmias
Ectopic foci in pulmonary veins can trigger episodes of atrial fibrillation, but how these foci arise remains unclear. Dr Mark Shen and colleagues review the role of the autonomous nervous system in the induction and maintenance of atrial arrhythmias, and discuss neural modulation as a treatment strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation.
- Mark J. Shen
- , Eue-Keun Choi
- & Peng-Sheng Chen