The CARD8 protein regulates the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, a study shows

The CARD8 protein regulates several inflammatory proteins in people with atherosclerosis. This is demonstrated in a new study by the örebro researchers published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.

We showed completely new functions associated with CARD8. These may be important in the future treatment of atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. “

Geena Paramel, researcher from örebro

Atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, is the main cause of most cardiovascular diseases. The inflammation of the blood vessel walls caused by atherosclerosis involves several proteins, which in turn are regulated by the CARD8 protein.

“Our study shows that CARD8 plays a crucial role in the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis,” says Geena Paramel, one of the researchers behind the study and senior lecturer in biomedicine at the University of örebro.

Regulates inflammation

The research team, led by Professor Allan Sirsjö at the Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) of the University of örebro, looked at the functions that CARD8 performs in the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. By suppressing the CARD8 gene, they mapped the proteins regulated by CARD8. The results show a link between elevated levels of CARD8 and altered levels of many other inflammatory proteins in hardening of the arteries.

These results were confirmed in samples from a group of individuals affected by atherosclerosis, in collaboration with researchers from the Karolinska Institutet.

“These findings are significant as they could be critical for the development of the next drugs for atherosclerosis. In the future, we may be able to use more targeted drugs against CARD8 in atherosclerosis,” says Karin Franzén, professor of biomedicine at the University of örebro and authors contributing to the study.

In a previous study, researchers also saw a link in people who have a genetic variation in the CARD8 gene and altered levels of inflammatory proteins in the body.

“There is a lot that suggests that CARD8 may also be significant for many other inflammation-related diseases,” says Geena Paramel.

Identify the mechanism

The örebro researchers are now planning a continued CARD8 study. In collaboration with BioReperia, a Linköping company, they will continue to map the role CARD8 plays in inflammatory processes which are also central to tumor development.

“Right now, we know that CARD8 plays a crucial role in the inflammatory process in cells. We also want to understand how CARD8 affects other processes in cells,” explains Karin Franzén.