Researchers discover new target for treating atherosclerosis

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a new target to treat atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque clogs arteries and causes major cardiac issues, including stroke and heart attack.

Medications help but don't completely protect patients from cardiovascular risk. So, doctors also recommend lifestyle changes, such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet (LCLFD), to further reduce plaque and inflammation that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet many patients find it challenging to follow diet restrictions long-term.

Identifying the role ITA plays in diet and heart disease may help address this.

Based on their discovery, Maiseyeu and his team have developed a new treatment: ITA-conjugated lipid nanoparticles (ITA-LNP, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/707,954). This new therapeutic approach allows ITA to accumulate in plaque and bone marrow, where it reduces inflammation and mimics the beneficial effects of LCLFD without requiring drastic lifestyle changes.

"We have already seen its effectiveness in multiple models of atherosclerosis," Maiseyeu said. "We are optimistic that this will result in better treatments that will greatly lower the long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes while also improving patients' quality of life."

Maiseyeu and his team are now taking steps to translate ITA-LNP to the clinic, including engineering a pill form of the treatment, which they believe will not only be convenient for patients, but also transformative.

Source:

Case Western Reserve University

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