Role of sirtuins in attenuating plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis

Mol Cell Biochem. 2023 Mar 23:1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11010-023-04714-2. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAtherosclerosis is characterized by the development of intimal plaque, thrombosis, and stenosis of the vessel lumen causing decreased blood flow and hypoxia precipitating angina. Chronic inflammation in the stable plaque renders it unstable and rupture of unstable plaques results in the formation of emboli leading to hypoxia/ischemia to the organs by occluding the terminal branches and precipitate myocardial infarction and stroke. Such delibitating events could be controlled by the strategies that prevent plaque development or plaque stabilization. Despite the use of statins to stabilize plaques, there is a need for novel targets due to continuously increasing cases of cardiovascular events. Sirtuins (SIRTs), a family of signaling proteins, are involved in sustaining genome integrity, DNA damage response and repair, modulating oxidative stress, aging, inflammation, and energy metabolism. SIRTs play a critical role in modulating inflammation and involves in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The role of SIRTs in relation to atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability is scarcely discussed in the literature. Since SIRTs regulate oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging, they may also regulate plaque progression and vulnerability as these molecular mechanisms underlie the pathogenesis of plaque development, progression, and vulnerability. This review critically discu...
Source: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Source Type: research