Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found a new tool to safely block the gene responsible for cardiovascular diseases.
ANGPTL4 is a gene, which is responsible for regulating fatty lipids in plasma. Scientists from the University of Colorado have discovered that individuals with lower levels of ANGPTL4 have reduced lipids and triglycerides, resulting into lower rate of cardiovascular diseases. The finding of the study was published in the journal named ‘Trends in Molecular Medicine.’ Scientists are trying to devise a tool to block this gene, in order to lower the rate of cardiovascular diseases. However, researchers have revealed that serious inflammation was observed in mice, when antibodies were used to block this gene. Moreover, scientists also revealed added advantages of this gene in reducing the risk of myocardial ischemia and playing a significant role in repairing a damaged heart. Scientists are trying to figure out a way to safely inhibit ANGPTL4 after they discovered this gene with a circadian pattern.
Scientists also added that this gene is influenced by light. Dr. Tobias Eckle, professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, led this study. Dr. Eckle in another study had discovered that the heart can be protected using light therapy. He and his team in this study performed light dependent cardiac gene expression characterized by intense profiling of unbiased and whole genome array. Without blocking the entire gene, he assumed that the gene could be manipulated by light. Dr. Eckle and his team demonstrated that without knocking out the protein, the circadian amplitude can be enhanced by increasing its peaks and troughs. He further added that light therapy can activate the gene.
This study establishes the physiological importance of circadian rhythms and signifies the pathways of the light and oxygen within the human body. Dr. Eckle concluded that chronotherapy is the future of medicine, which include administering medications at different times of the circadian cycle.