In summation to cholesterol, nan amino acerb homocysteine besides plays a domiciled successful aortic stiffening. Researchers from Graz University of Technology, nan University of Graz and nan Medical University of Graz were capable to beryllium this successful a caller study.
Cardiovascular diseases stay nan astir communal origin of decease worldwide. In Europe, they relationship for complete 40 percent of each deaths. However, known consequence factors specified arsenic precocious cholesterin levels aliases precocious humor unit cannot afloat explicate nan precocious mortality complaint aliases nan number of cardiovascular diseases. Scientists successful Graz person now investigated a caller facet that is intimately linked to cardiovascular mortality. Elevated levels of nan amino acerb homocysteine successful nan humor led to a stiffer and little elastic aorta successful an animal model. These findings lend to nan existent knowing of nan improvement of cardiovascular diseases specified arsenic atherosclerosis, successful which nan domiciled of cholesterin has antecedently been much successful focus.
Focus connected nan aorta
The aorta is nan largest humor alloy successful nan quality body. With each heartbeat, it must statement and grow to carrier oxygen-rich humor from nan bosom to nan organs. "Many cardiovascular diseases person their root successful aortic dysfunction," explains Gerhard A. Holzapfel from nan Institute of Biomechanics astatine Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). Together pinch Francesca Bogoni (TU Graz) and Oksana Tehlivets from nan Institute of Molecular Biosciences (University of Graz), he is conducting investigation connected nan mechanical properties of nan aorta.
In a caller publication, nan scientists, together pinch partners from nan Medical University of Graz, investigated nan effects of homocysteine connected nan aorta. This "cell poison" is produced arsenic an intermediate merchandise during nan metabolism of different amino acid, methionine.
If it is not surgery down quickly, homocysteine accumulates. This is often observed successful older people. A high-fat fare and deficiency of workout whitethorn besides lend to an summation successful homocysteine levels successful nan blood."
Oksana Tehlivets, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz
Too overmuch homocysteine makes nan aorta stiff
The researchers focused their studies connected nan domiciled of this amino acid. "We deliberately near retired nan power of cholesterol, arsenic we already cognize that excessively overmuch of it thickens nan humor vessels. However, nan truth that elevated homocysteine levels make humor vessels stiffer and little elastic was antecedently little recognized arsenic a consequence factor," explains Francesca Bogoni.
The investigation findings laic nan instauration for a amended knowing of nan mechanisms that origin atherosclerosis and cardiovascular illness successful general. The investigation was funded by nan Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and BioTechMed-Graz, nan associated wellness investigation web of nan University of Graz, nan Medical University of Graz and nan Graz University of Technology.
Source:
Journal reference:
Bogoni, F., et al. (2025) Homocysteine leads to aortic stiffening successful a rabbit exemplary of atherosclerosis. Acta Biomaterialia. doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2025.06.003