Groundbreaking Research Reveals suPAR Protein as a Direct Cause of Heart Disease
A major scientific breakthrough may have revealed the long-sought cause of heart disease, thanks to a recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan.
Cause of heart disease; The team’s investigation identified a protein produced by the immune system known as suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) as a direct contributor to atherosclerosis, the dangerous buildup of plaque inside arteries. This condition restricts blood flow and is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes worldwide, impacting more than a billion individuals globally.
suPAR, which originates in the bone marrow, regulates inflammation throughout the body. Although previous studies had associated elevated suPAR levels with increased heart disease risk, this is the first time scientists have demonstrated a causal link.
To explore this connection, researchers analyzed health data from over 5,000 individuals without pre-existing heart disease. The results showed that people with higher suPAR concentrations were significantly more prone to developing atherosclerosis , even in the absence of high cholesterol or elevated blood pressure.
Further investigation into why certain individuals have elevated suPAR levels led scientists to examine genetic information from 24,000 participants. They identified a variant in the PLAUR gene, which governs suPAR production. Those carrying this genetic alteration exhibited both higher suPAR levels and a greater likelihood of developing atherosclerosis.
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The study employed Mendelian randomization, a research technique using genetic data to confirm cause-and-effect relationships. Involving data from 500,000 people in the UK Biobank and two other large datasets, this approach reinforced the link between the PLAUR gene variant, increased suPAR levels, and the onset of atherosclerosis , a significant cause of heart disease.
To validate their findings, researchers conducted laboratory experiments on mice. Animals injected with high suPAR levels developed considerably more arterial plaque than those with normal levels, offering clear evidence that suPAR actively damages blood vessels.
What sets this discovery apart is its independence from traditional heart disease treatments. Current medications like statins effectively lower cholesterol but have no impact on suPAR levels. This identifies suPAR as a promising, untapped target for new therapies aimed at preventing or slowing the progression of heart disease.
Lead researcher Dr. Salim Hayek and his team are now developing potential treatments designed to safely reduce suPAR levels, offering fresh hope for millions at risk.
Interestingly, this discovery may also clarify the frequent overlap between kidney and cause of heart disease . Earlier research had implicated suPAR in kidney damage. In the U.S. alone, approximately one in seven adults suffers from kidney disease, and two-thirds of these patients also face heart complications. By addressing suPAR, medical professionals might one day treat both conditions simultaneously.
This important study was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, marking a crucial advance in the fight against one of the world’s most persistent health threats.
