Atherosclerosis Is a Smooth Muscle Cell–Driven Tumor-Like Disease
Authors' conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that atherosclerosis is an SMC-driven tumor-like disease, advancing our understanding of its pathogenesis and opening prospects for innovative precision molecular strategies aimed at preventing and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Study context
- Population
- SMC lineage tracing mice and human atherosclerotic tissues
- Outcome
- Tumor cell-like features of SMC-derived cells in atherosclerosis
Methodological detailsSMC lineage tracing mice, human tissues
- SMC lineage tracing mice
- Human tissues
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- SMC-derived cells in mouse and human atherosclerosis show tumor cell-like traits: genomic instability, evasion of senescence, hyperproliferation, resistance to cell death, invasiveness, activation of cancer-associated gene regulatory networks
- SMC-specific oncogenic KrasG12D accelerates phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis
- Niraparib (anticancer drug targeting DNA damage repair) attenuates atherosclerosis progression and induces lesion regression in advanced disease in mouse models
Original publication
Atherosclerosis Is a Smooth Muscle Cell–Driven Tumor-Like Disease. Circulation. Published 30 April 2024. doi:10.
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