Human species-specific loss of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase enhances atherosclerosis via intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) events due to atherosclerosis cause one-third of worldwide deaths and risk factors include physical inactivity, age, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and red meat consumption. However, ∼15% of first-time events occur without such factors. In contrast, coronary events are extremely rare even in closely related chimpanzees in captivity, despite human-like CVD-risk-prone blood lipid profiles, hypertension, and mild atherosclerosis. Similarly, red meat-associated enhancement of CVD event risk does not seem to occur in other carnivorous mammals. Thus, heightened CVD risk may be intrinsic to humans, and genetic changes during our evolution need consideration. Humans exhibit a species-specific deficiency of the sialic acid N-glycolylneura

SUBMITTER: Kawanishi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6690033 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature