Genetic Regulation of Atherosclerosis-Relevant Phenotypes in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent genome-wide association studies revealed 163 loci associated with CAD. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which the majority of these loci increase CAD risk are not known. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are critical in the development of CAD. They can play either beneficial or detrimental roles in lesion pathogenesis, depending on the nature of their phenotypic changes.

Objective

To identify genetic variants associated with atherosclerosis-relevant phenotypes in VSMCs.

Methods and results

We quantified 12 atherosclerosis-relevant phenotypes related to calcification, proliferation, and migration in VSMCs isolated from 151 multiethnic heart transplant do

SUBMITTER: Aherrahrou R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7718324 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature