How does JCAD raise the risk of coronary heart disease, and how can we combat it?

Defining the Role of the CAD Gene JCAD in Vascular Remodelling

Oxford researchers are uncovering how a newly-discovered gene relates to heart disease. Studies of the human genome have spotlighted a new gene that raises the risk of coronary heart disease. The gene has been named JCAD and, with BHF funding, these Oxford scientists have begun to discover what it does. They’ve shown that JCAD is involved in causing the build-up of fatty deposits in the vessel wall, particularly where blood flow is slow or disturbed. The build-up of fatty deposits in coronary arteries can cause coronary heart disease. The ability of blood vessels to respond to changes in blood flow is crucial. The researchers will now investigate how JCAD alters the response of blood vessels to everyday activities such as exercise, and disease conditions like coronary heart disease, which temporarily or permanently alters the way blood moves through vessels. It is important to understand how JCAD is linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. This knowledge could shed light on the possibility of JCAD as new therapeutic target and discover potentially new areas of vascular research.