Cardiovascular biology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Genetic variants contribute to the risk of developing certain diseases, but identifying the genes and molecular pathways under their control has been difficult. Now, a systematic approach to pinpointing these factors yields insights into how a specific pathway in endothelial cells influences the risk of coronary artery disease.

Adult hearts have inherently limited regenerative capabilities, such that injury results in lasting damage. The situation is different in neonatal mouse hearts, however, where a new study reveals a role for the immunomodulatory PD-1–PD-L1 pathway in regulating regeneration after injury.

Cardiac dysfunction is a hallmark of aging in humans and mice. Here, the authors show that by restoring youthful Bridging Integrator 1 (BIN1) protein levels in the hearts of 24-month-old mice in vivo cardiac systolic function is rejuvenated, and the aging phenotype partially reversed within two weeks.

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.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with several alterations in protein post-translational modifications. Here, the authors examine the evidence of these alterations, their links with CKD progression and cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD, and their potential clinical applications.

Based on comparative single-cell transcriptomics of arterial grafts deriving from internal thoracic, radial and right gastroepiploic arteries, Hu, Dai, Chang, et al. identify factors that might prevent extracellular matrix deposition and fibrosis and improve the outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting.

This Review outlines the roles of innate and adaptive immune cells in hypertension. The authors discuss the mechanisms and important properties of immune cells that contribute to hypertension pathogenesis, such as memory and plasticity.

Treatment for periodontal disease might reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing ablation, suggesting that periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor for AF.

Findings from the ORBITA-COSMIC trial show that treatment of patients with stable coronary artery disease using a coronary sinus reducer improves angina symptoms but does not increase transmural myocardial perfusion.

According to data from the IMPROVE-HCM trial, ninerafaxstat is well tolerated by patients with symptomatic non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and improves exercise performance among those who are most symptomatically limited.

Data from the DanGer Shock trial demonstrate that implantation of a microaxial flow pump in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock increases the survival rate compared with standard care alone.

Three randomized clinical trials presented at ACC.24 demonstrate that olezarsen and plozasiran, RNA-based therapies that target APOC3, can robustly reduce plasma triglyceride levels in patients with moderate to severe hypertriglyceridaemia.

In the REDUCE-AMI trial, the use of β-blockers in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) who have undergone early coronary angiography and have a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction did not reduce the risk of death or new MI compared with no β-blocker use.