N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges
Atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Although the mechanism for atherosclerosis is complex and has not been fully understood, inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been u...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/12/2073 |
| _version_ | 1797382244188291072 |
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| author | Yuqi Cui Qiang Zhu Hong Hao Gregory C. Flaker Zhenguo Liu |
| author_facet | Yuqi Cui Qiang Zhu Hong Hao Gregory C. Flaker Zhenguo Liu |
| author_sort | Yuqi Cui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Although the mechanism for atherosclerosis is complex and has not been fully understood, inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used as a mucolytic agent and an antidote for acetaminophen overdose with a well-established safety profile. NAC has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through multiple mechanisms, including an increase in the intracellular glutathione level and an attenuation of the nuclear factor kappa-B mediated production of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukins. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that NAC significantly decreases the development and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the data on the outcomes of clinical studies in patients with atherosclerosis have been limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this review is to summarize the data on the effect of NAC on atherosclerosis from both pre-clinical and clinical studies and discuss the potential mechanisms of action of NAC on atherosclerosis, as well as challenges in the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:02:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-790234a359644dacbd5d69fdff9c345c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:02:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-790234a359644dacbd5d69fdff9c345c2023-12-22T13:48:25ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212023-12-011212207310.3390/antiox12122073N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and ChallengesYuqi Cui0Qiang Zhu1Hong Hao2Gregory C. Flaker3Zhenguo Liu4Department of Geriatrics, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USACenter for Precision Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USACenter for Precision Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USACenter for Precision Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USACenter for Precision Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USAAtherosclerosis remains a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Although the mechanism for atherosclerosis is complex and has not been fully understood, inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used as a mucolytic agent and an antidote for acetaminophen overdose with a well-established safety profile. NAC has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through multiple mechanisms, including an increase in the intracellular glutathione level and an attenuation of the nuclear factor kappa-B mediated production of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukins. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that NAC significantly decreases the development and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the data on the outcomes of clinical studies in patients with atherosclerosis have been limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this review is to summarize the data on the effect of NAC on atherosclerosis from both pre-clinical and clinical studies and discuss the potential mechanisms of action of NAC on atherosclerosis, as well as challenges in the field.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/12/2073atherosclerosisN-acetylcysteineinflammationoxidative stressantioxidant |
| spellingShingle | Yuqi Cui Qiang Zhu Hong Hao Gregory C. Flaker Zhenguo Liu N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges Antioxidants atherosclerosis N-acetylcysteine inflammation oxidative stress antioxidant |
| title | N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges |
| title_full | N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges |
| title_fullStr | N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges |
| title_short | N-Acetylcysteine and Atherosclerosis: Promises and Challenges |
| title_sort | n acetylcysteine and atherosclerosis promises and challenges |
| topic | atherosclerosis N-acetylcysteine inflammation oxidative stress antioxidant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/12/2073 |
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