An injection for atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is characterized by narrowing of the vascular lumen as a result of the accumulation of plaques on the inner wall – a wax-like dense substance rich in cholesterol. There is a group of drugs that effectively reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, but they are unable to fight already formed plaques. It is possible to restore the patency of the arteries with the help of various surgical techniques (bypass surgery, stenting), but none of them heals the patient completely, besides they are associated with the risk of damage to the vascular wall.
A group of researchers from the Feinberg Medical School of Northwestern University in Chicago (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine), led by vascular surgeon Neel A. Mansukhani, set out to develop a method for non-surgical treatment of atherosclerosis. They created self-assembling peptide amphiphilic nanofibers that, after intravenous administration, target atherosclerotic plaques. Peptides in the composition of nanofibers dissolve cholesterol.
To test their invention, the researchers modified the genome of mice so that they developed atherosclerosis in a short time, and fed them high-fat food for 14 weeks. After that, each mouse was injected with either amphiphilic peptide nanofibers or saline solution once every two weeks. After 4 injections, the results were evaluated using fluorescence microscopy and pixel counting. They determined the optimal dose, concentration, duration of action and bioavailability. The authors found that the effect of nanofibers appeared 24 hours after administration, after 48-72 hours they disintegrated and were completely eliminated from the body within 7-10 days. After the course, the total area of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries of males decreased by 11%, females – by 9%.
Thus, amphiphilic peptide nanofibers demonstrated their effectiveness: they purposefully interacted with plaques on the inner wall of blood vessels, a short course of treatment led to a decrease in their number. The authors admit that these are preliminary data, they are not enough to conduct research with human participation.
The results of the study were reported at the Scientific Hearings "From Genes to Medicine" in 2018, organized by the American Heart Association's Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the American Heart Association: Preliminary research shows non-invasive therapy may reverse atherosclerosis.