Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs
Atherosclerosis is a major cause of human cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality around the world. Various physiological and pathological processes are involved, including chronic inflammation, dysregulation of lipid metabolism, development of an environment characterized by...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2529 |
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| author | Amin Javadifar Sahar Rastgoo Maciej Banach Tannaz Jamialahmadi Thomas P. Johnston Amirhossein Sahebkar |
| author_facet | Amin Javadifar Sahar Rastgoo Maciej Banach Tannaz Jamialahmadi Thomas P. Johnston Amirhossein Sahebkar |
| author_sort | Amin Javadifar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atherosclerosis is a major cause of human cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality around the world. Various physiological and pathological processes are involved, including chronic inflammation, dysregulation of lipid metabolism, development of an environment characterized by oxidative stress and improper immune responses. Accordingly, the expansion of novel targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis is necessary. In this study, we focus on the role of foam cells in the development of atherosclerosis. The specific therapeutic goals associated with each stage in the formation of foam cells and the development of atherosclerosis will be considered. Processing and metabolism of cholesterol in the macrophage is one of the main steps in foam cell formation. Cholesterol processing involves lipid uptake, cholesterol esterification and cholesterol efflux, which ultimately leads to cholesterol equilibrium in the macrophage. Recently, many preclinical studies have appeared concerning the role of non-encoding RNAs in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Non-encoding RNAs, especially microRNAs, are considered regulators of lipid metabolism by affecting the expression of genes involved in the uptake (e.g., CD36 and LOX1) esterification (ACAT1) and efflux (ABCA1, ABCG1) of cholesterol. They are also able to regulate inflammatory pathways, produce cytokines and mediate foam cell apoptosis. We have reviewed important preclinical evidence of their therapeutic targeting in atherosclerosis, with a special focus on foam cell formation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:43:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-904dfde72859497e8c3616e47d0fe0c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:43:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-904dfde72859497e8c3616e47d0fe0c42023-12-03T12:23:08ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-03-01225252910.3390/ijms22052529Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAsAmin Javadifar0Sahar Rastgoo1Maciej Banach2Tannaz Jamialahmadi3Thomas P. Johnston4Amirhossein Sahebkar5Department of Allergy and Immunology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, IranDepartment of Allergy and Immunology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, IranDepartment of Hypertension, Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, 93338 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan 9479176135, IranDivision of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108-2718, USABiotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, IranAtherosclerosis is a major cause of human cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality around the world. Various physiological and pathological processes are involved, including chronic inflammation, dysregulation of lipid metabolism, development of an environment characterized by oxidative stress and improper immune responses. Accordingly, the expansion of novel targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis is necessary. In this study, we focus on the role of foam cells in the development of atherosclerosis. The specific therapeutic goals associated with each stage in the formation of foam cells and the development of atherosclerosis will be considered. Processing and metabolism of cholesterol in the macrophage is one of the main steps in foam cell formation. Cholesterol processing involves lipid uptake, cholesterol esterification and cholesterol efflux, which ultimately leads to cholesterol equilibrium in the macrophage. Recently, many preclinical studies have appeared concerning the role of non-encoding RNAs in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Non-encoding RNAs, especially microRNAs, are considered regulators of lipid metabolism by affecting the expression of genes involved in the uptake (e.g., CD36 and LOX1) esterification (ACAT1) and efflux (ABCA1, ABCG1) of cholesterol. They are also able to regulate inflammatory pathways, produce cytokines and mediate foam cell apoptosis. We have reviewed important preclinical evidence of their therapeutic targeting in atherosclerosis, with a special focus on foam cell formation.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2529atherosclerosislipid metabolismnoncoding RNAsfoam cell formation |
| spellingShingle | Amin Javadifar Sahar Rastgoo Maciej Banach Tannaz Jamialahmadi Thomas P. Johnston Amirhossein Sahebkar Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs International Journal of Molecular Sciences atherosclerosis lipid metabolism noncoding RNAs foam cell formation |
| title | Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_full | Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_fullStr | Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_short | Foam Cells as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis with a Focus on the Regulatory Roles of Non-Coding RNAs |
| title_sort | foam cells as therapeutic targets in atherosclerosis with a focus on the regulatory roles of non coding rnas |
| topic | atherosclerosis lipid metabolism noncoding RNAs foam cell formation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/5/2529 |
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