Biological sciences articles within Nature Reviews Cardiology

Featured

  • Research Highlight |

    Activation of the bile acid receptor TGR5 inhibits CD36-mediated fatty acid uptake in cardiomyocytes and protects against cardiac lipotoxicity and the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice, according to a new study.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Adkar and Leeper describe the mechanisms of programmed cell death and efferocytosis, discuss how efferocytosis becomes impaired in atherosclerosis and other cardiometabolic diseases, and suggest potential strategies to target these pathways for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Shaunak S. Adkar
    •  & Nicholas J. Leeper

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, the authors discuss the receptors, ligands and interactors that regulate immune cell recruitment in atherosclerosis, describe mechanisms that promote the resolution of inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions, and highlight potential strategies to target these pathways for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Yvonne Döring
    • , Emiel P. C. van der Vorst
    •  & Christian Weber

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, van Leent and colleagues provide an overview of current PET imaging approaches for assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as well as of whole-body PET applications; discuss the link between imaging readouts and atherosclerotic plaque pathology; and highlight promising developments in PET systems and radiotracer synthesis.

    • Alexander Maier
    • , Abraham J. P. Teunissen
    •  & Mandy M. T. van Leent

  • Review Article |

    Protein glycosylation is vital to the regulation of cell function, and changes in this post-translational modification underlie many disease processes. In this Review, Chatham and Patel discuss how protein glycosylation contributes to normal cardiovascular function and its role in cardiovascular disease, identifying important knowledge gaps and areas for future research.

    • John C. Chatham
    •  & Rakesh P. Patel

  • Review Article |

    Non-coding RNAs are implicated in the pathophysiology of ischaemic heart disease and heart failure. In this Review, Caporali and colleagues examine the biology of these molecules and discuss the potential of non-coding RNAs for translation to the clinic as biomarkers and therapeutics in adverse cardiac remodelling leading to ischaemic heart failure.

    • Andrea Caporali
    • , Maryam Anwar
    •  & Costanza Emanueli

  • Tools of the Trade |

    In this Tools of the Trade article, Charrière describes the FluoStep FRET-based biosensor used for high-resolution imaging of cAMP nanodomains that are involved in intracellular signalling in cardiomyocytes.

    • Camille Charrière

  • Tools of the Trade |

    In this Tools of the Trade article, Olivera describes a rat model of pre-elampsia that has been instrumental for investigating potential long-term cardiovascular effects in offspring.

    • Sol Olivera
    •  & Delyth Graham

  • Journal Club |

    Shoaran and Maffia recount how our understanding of the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis has evolved and highlight the study by Göran Hansson and colleagues that provided the first hint of the involvement of the adaptive immune response in atherosclerosis.

    • Mohsen Shoaran
    •  & Pasquale Maffia

  • Journal Club |

    Rebecca Gilchrist discusses the study that demonstrated the long-term modulation of ventricular repolarization by the sequence of electrical activation in the human heart and established the concept of cardiac memory.

    • Rebecca J. Gilchrist

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Lakhal-Littleton and Cleland use the latest understanding of iron homeostasis to evaluate existing and emerging markers of iron status, describe the reciprocal relationship between iron status and heart failure, and mechanistically examine the benefits of oral and intravenous iron replacement therapies.

    • Samira Lakhal-Littleton
    •  & John G. F. Cleland

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Fredman and Serhan discuss the role of specialized pro-resolving mediators, a superfamily of endogenous signalling lipids that mediate resolution of inflammation processes in atherosclerosis, and appraise the therapeutic potential of specialized pro-resolving mediators for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, and the resolution of uncontrolled vascular inflammation.

    • Gabrielle Fredman
    •  & Charles N. Serhan

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Guzik and colleagues discuss immune and inflammatory mechanisms of hypertension, including upstream regulators and downstream effectors as well as the complex interplay between the immune system, blood pressure regulation and end-organ damage, which can help to identify new targets for therapeutic interventions.

    • Tomasz J. Guzik
    • , Ryszard Nosalski
    •  & Grant R. Drummond

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, the authors discuss the latest insights on RNA-binding proteins and RNA biology and appraise them in the context of cardiovascular research, summarizing the progress in our understanding of the involvement of RNA-binding proteins in cardiac biology and disease.

    • Mirko Völkers
    • , Thomas Preiss
    •  & Matthias W. Hentze

  • Research Highlight |

    Gene therapy involving adenine base editing can correct a pathogenic variant in the Scn5a gene and alleviate arrhythmia phenotypes in a mouse model of long QT syndrome type 3.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    Treatment with the small interfering RNA patisiran preserves functional capacity and improves health status and quality of life in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, according to data from the 12-month double-blind period of the ongoing APOLLO-B trial.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    The NLRP3 inflammasome can sense cardiac ischaemic and non-ischaemic injury, amplify the inflammatory response and induce inflammatory cell death. In this Review, Toldo and Abbate describe the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in numerous cardiac pathologies and summarize evidence on the use of agents targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome and related cytokines.

    • Stefano Toldo
    •  & Antonio Abbate

  • Research Highlight |

    SARS-CoV-2 infects macrophages, especially lipid-laden foam cells, in coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with COVID-19; this infection initiates a strong proatherogenic inflammatory response, which might contribute to the ischaemic cardiovascular complications in these patients.

    • Gregory B. Lim

  • Research Highlight |

    NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin 2 is a key protective mediator against cardiac ageing, according to a study in non-human primates.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    The metabolic maturation of mammalian cardiomyocytes that occurs during the early postnatal period shapes the epigenetic landscape of cardiomyocytes and creates a barrier for cell division, but reversing this remodelling process can restore the reparative capacity of the heart in mice, according to a study published in Nature.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Comment |

    Despite the high consumption of fermented foods and beverages worldwide, their role in a healthy diet is still up for debate. Some fermented beverages have been demonstrated to protect against cardiovascular disease, but many aspects of the effects of fermented foods on cardiovascular health are uncertain. Better-designed studies are warranted.

    • Ramon Estruch
    •  & Rosa M. Lamuela-Raventós

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Swirski and co-workers discuss how lifestyle factors modulate haematopoiesis and leukocyte migration in the context of cardiovascular homeostasis and disease, with particular focus on the role of the nervous system as the key executor connecting environmental influences to leukocyte behaviour.

    • Henrike Janssen
    • , Laura L. Koekkoek
    •  & Filip K. Swirski

  • Review Article |

    The menopausal transition period, which begins with irregular menstrual cycles and ends with the final menstrual period, is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk. In this Review, Mehta and Manson describe the metabolic and cardiovascular changes that occur during the menopausal transition period and summarize the evidence on the use of targeted interventions to slow the progression of atherosclerosis.

    • Jaya M. Mehta
    •  & JoAnn E. Manson

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, the authors discuss the clinical and experimental data on immunomodulatory effects of evidence-based treatments for heart failure and their primary mechanisms of action, and highlight potential therapeutic targets and opportunities for the development and application of novel immunomodulatory treatments for heart failure.

    • George Markousis-Mavrogenis
    • , Lukas Baumhove
    •  & Peter van der Meer

  • Review Article |

    Some species have a greater capacity for cardiac regeneration than others. In this Review, Weinberger and Riley summarize the diverse array of vertebrates that have been studied for their cardiac regenerative potential and the core mechanisms that regulate cardiac regeneration across vertebrate species.

    • Michael Weinberger
    •  & Paul R. Riley

  • Review Article |

    In the infarcted heart, pericytes have crucial roles in inflammatory signalling, angiogenesis, and scar formation and stabilization. In this Review, Avolio and colleagues discuss the numerous roles of cardiac pericytes in homeostasis and disease and describe the potential of pericyte-based therapy for restoring the perivascular niche after myocardial infarction.

    • Elisa Avolio
    • , Paola Campagnolo
    •  & Paolo Madeddu

  • Research Highlight |

    Patients with hypertension who receive a single subcutaneous dose of zilebesiran, a novel small-interfering RNA that inhibits hepatic angiotensinogen synthesis, have reductions in serum angiotensinogen levels and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure that last for up to 24 weeks, according to a phase I study.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Riksen and colleagues discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of trained immunity, the activation of these mechanisms by cardiovascular risk factors, and how trained immunity might contribute to atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The authors also propose potential strategies for the therapeutic modulation of trained immunity in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Niels P. Riksen
    • , Siroon Bekkering
    •  & Mihai G. Netea

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Ritterhoff and Tian describe the metabolic reprogramming that occurs in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure; discuss the contribution of metabolism to energy-generating and non-energy-generating functions, including signalling, protein function and gene expression regulation; and highlight the role of metabolism in non-cardiomyocytes and the potential to develop metabolic therapies for heart failure.

    • Julia Ritterhoff
    •  & Rong Tian

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Jo and colleagues discuss blood flow-induced mechanisms involved in endothelial cell dysfunction and atherosclerosis, including the emerging concept of disturbed-flow-induced reprogramming of endothelial cells as a pro-atherogenic mechanism, and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting of flow-sensitive genes, proteins and pathways.

    • Ian A. Tamargo
    • , Kyung In Baek
    •  & Hanjoong Jo

  • Clinical Outlook |

    Contemporary tools to predict cardiovascular risk lack accuracy on an individual-patient level. The use of single-cell RNA sequencing to identify specific leukocyte patterns might overcome some of these limitations, propelling us towards a precision medicine approach.

    • Johannes Gollmer
    •  & Andreas Zirlik

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Kroemer and colleagues describe eight molecular hallmarks of cardiovascular ageing: disabled macroautophagy, loss of proteostasis, genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, dysregulated neurohormonal signalling and inflammation. Therapeutically targeting these hallmarks might attenuate residual cardiovascular risk in older individuals.

    • Mahmoud Abdellatif
    • , Peter P. Rainer
    •  & Guido Kroemer

  • Comment |

    Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined as an expansion of mutant blood stem cells in individuals without haematological malignancies. CHIP is linked to an increased risk of non-cancerous disorders such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, possibly because mutant innate immune cells have pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether individuals with CHIP might benefit from anti-inflammatory therapies.

    • Herra Ahmad
    •  & Siddhartha Jaiswal

  • Comment |

    IgM antibodies have gained much attention as risk markers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the exact antigenic determinants and the full spectrum of functions remain to be defined. A better understanding of the potentially diverse nature of the antigens that they recognize will help to dissect the function of IgM in atherosclerosis.

    • Justine Deroissart
    •  & Christoph J. Binder

  • Comment |

    Lipophagy is a type of selective autophagy that targets lipid droplets for degradation. Since the discovery of lipophagy in 2009, research has uncovered a central role for this process in cellular lipid metabolism, including in atherogenic foam cells. Therefore, increasing lipophagy might be a therapeutic target to reverse lipid build-up in atherosclerosis.

    • Thomas Laval
    •  & Mireille Ouimet

  • Comment |

    Excessive salt intake is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease commonly associated with hypertension. However, we propose that a high-salt diet can promote cardiovascular and other diseases independently of high blood pressure through inflammatory pathways that increase the production of myeloid cells.

    • Man K. S. Lee
    •  & Andrew J. Murphy

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, the authors discuss current treatment regimens for lowering plasma LDL cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, highlight treatment gaps and challenges, as well as describe opportunities raised by novel available therapies and potential future therapeutic approaches.

    • Julia Brandts
    •  & Kausik K. Ray

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Gawaz and colleagues discuss the pathophysiological role of platelets in acute myocardial ischaemia, vascular inflammation and atherosclerotic progression, summarize the current clinical concepts in antiplatelet therapy and describe novel therapeutic targets for antiplatelet drugs that are currently in development.

    • Meinrad Gawaz
    • , Tobias Geisler
    •  & Oliver Borst

  • Research Highlight |

    A wrist-worn, transdermal sensor can be used to measure plasma levels of cardiac troponin I, potentially facilitating the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

    • Gregory B. Lim

  • Research Highlight |

    Findings from the DREAM-HF trial, the largest clinical trial of cell therapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to date, suggest that cardiac therapy with mesenchymal precursor cells might benefit patients with HFrEF, particularly those with inflammation.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a common disorder characterized by thickening, fibrosis and mineralization of the aortic valve leaflets. In this Review, Mathieu and colleagues summarize the risk factors, genetics and molecular mechanisms involved in CAVD and the implications for treatment of the condition.

    • Louis-Hippolyte Minvielle Moncla
    • , Mewen Briend
    •  & Patrick Mathieu

  • Comment |

    Low plasma levels of HDL cholesterol are a risk factor for infection and hospitalization for infectious disease. Recent work suggests that inadequate levels of HDL particles of specific sizes — small and medium — account for this risk. In this Comment, we discuss the mechanistic implications of these observations and the methodologies used to quantify HDL size.

    • Jay W. Heinecke
    •  & W. Sean Davidson

  • Research Highlight |

    Researchers have engineered a wearable device that adheres to the skin and uses ultrasound imaging and a deep learning model to produce a dynamic, real-time assessment of cardiac function.

    • Gregory B. Lim

Browse narrower subjects

Browse Biological sciences across other nature.com journals