Loss of the Coronary Artery Disease Risk Gene Leiomodin1 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Triggers Rapid Onset Coronary Atherosclerosis - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Coronary Artery Disease
- #Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
- #Atherosclerosis
- Leiomodin1 (Lmod1) is a vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-restricted gene linked to coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Loss of Lmod1 in VSMCs triggers rapid-onset coronary atherosclerosis in mice under atherogenic conditions.
- A novel immunogold lineage tracing assay showed 46% of coronary plaque cells originate from VSMCs.
- The coronary atherosclerosis phenotype appears independent of LMOD1's actin nucleation function but is thrombospondin-dependent.
- LMOD1 is a risk allele for human CAD, highlighting VSMCs' role in atherogenesis.
- The rapid CAD phenotype in Lmod1 knockout mice allows for expedited therapeutic testing.
- Targeting Thrombospondin (Thbs1) may mitigate VSMC foam cell formation and atherosclerosis progression.