Identifying fatty fingerprints involved in atherosclerosis

Exploring known and novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease

Most heart attacks and strokes occur because the arteries feeding the heart or brain have become clogged with fatty plaques, a condition called atherosclerosis. Your risk of atherosclerosis is increased when you have high levels of fats in the blood – such as ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides. However, the causes of atherosclerosis are much more complex than this would suggest. In this research programme, a team led by BHF Professor Manuel Mayr at King’s College London, will investigate the role of these fatty substances in disease in a highly detailed way. First, in mice and human tissue samples, the researchers wish to distinguish the different molecules that bind fatty substances in blood. It is partly molecules like these that determine if cholesterol is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Then, they will study how fatty substances get trapped in the blood vessel wall in atherosclerosis. Finally, they will examine if we can develop new treatments to remove fats from the vessel wall. There is currently no definitive test that can predict if someone will have a heart attack or stroke before it happens. Professor Mayr believes it may be possible to identify a diagnostic 'fingerprint of fats' that can do this. The evidence they collect may also highlight new avenues for drug design targeted to reducing fatty deposits in arteries to slow, stop or reverse atherosclerosis.