By Sarah Leigh (Editorial Assistant) and Steve Humphries (Editor–in-Chief)
According to the findings of
Folkesson et al, it would appear that the proteases associated with intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are not active in the abluminal layer and are therefore unlikely to participate in AAA pathogenicity. These observations are put into context in commentaries by
Ireneusz Wiernicki and
Yoshimura et al who discuss other mechanisms that may underlie the association between ILT thickness and AAA pathogenesis.
In an attempt to elucidate the role of ABC-transporter A1(ABCA1) and scavenger receptor BI (SRB1) in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and atherogenesis,
Zhao et al studied the phenotype of single and double knockout mice for the ABCA1 and SRB1 genes. As observed in an invited commentary by
Alan Remaley, these studies goes someway to elucidating the role of key players in RCT, “which will hopefully lead someday to new therapeutic and diagnostic interventions for cardiovascular disease”.
Review Articles
In their article
Mackay & Jones present a comprehensive review of the methods currently available for the quantification of cholesterol absorption and syntheses. This resource provides invaluable information regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods.
Safar et al in their review article examine the principals behind and the effectiveness of “de stiffening” strategies, in the selective reduction of brachial systolic blood pressure by which the “vicious circle” of arterial stiffness, pulse pressure and cardiovascular disease may be broken.
With the aim of achieving consistent identification and treatment of children with heterozygous hypercholesterolemia in Belgium, the multidisciplinary team of
Descamps et al present a consensus of four recommendations in their review article.
Papers in this issue include:
Vascular Biology, Hemostasis & Oxidative Stress
- Protease activity in the multi-layered intra-luminal thrombus of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- Antiatherogenic Effects of Newly-developed Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic Peptide/Phospholipid Complexes in Watanabe-heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbits.
Metabolism: Lipids, Lipoproteins, Carbohydrates, Homocysteine & Cholesterol
- Hypocholesterolemia, foam cell accumulation, but no atherosclerosis in mice lacking ABC-transporter A1 & scavenger receptor BI.
- Human atherosclerotic plaque lipid extract promotes expression of proinflammatory factors in human monocytes & macrophage-like cells.
Imaging and Measurement of Vessel Health
- Serum Cystatin C is Associated with Early Stage Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Morphology on Multidetector Computed Tomography.
- Asymptomatic carotid plaque rupture with unexpected thrombosis over a non-canonical vulnerable lesion.
Genetics
- Homology modeling & functional testing of an ABCA1 mutation causing Tangier Disease.
- Lipoprotein Lipase Gene Variants Influence Plasma Lipid Concentrations & Interact with Plasma n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids to Modulate Lipid Metabolism.
Intervention
- Measuring oxidative burden & predicting pharmacological response in CAD patients with a novel direct activator of haem-free/oxidised sGC.
- Mechanisms of Statin Induced Myalgia assessed by Physiogenomic Associations.
Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Nutrition
- ABCA1 impacts athero-thrombotic risk & 10-year survival in a contemporary secondary prevention setting.
- Overexpression of CREG Attenuates Atherosclerotic Endothelium Apoptosis via VEGF/PI3K/AKT Pathway.