Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Blood protein patterns link two fat-carrying particles to heart disease risk
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden found shared protein patterns in TRL and Lp(a), two particles that carry fats through the blood.
They studied nearly 3,000 blood proteins in samples from about 35,000 UK Biobank participants who had no previous heart disease.
The patterns linked both particles to possible inflammation and changes in blood vessel walls, while LDL was mainly linked to cholesterol building up in artery walls.
Lowering LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol, reduces heart attack risk, but some people remain at risk even when their LDL reaches a recommended level.
The researchers say TRL and Lp(a) may help explain some of this remaining risk, and that their effects may be more harmful per particle than LDL's.
The findings point to biological pathways that could guide future prevention research, but the study does not establish a new treatment.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology identified blood protein patterns shared by triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) and lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a).
The patterns suggest that the particles may share inflammatory pathways linked to heart disease.
The researchers measured almost 3,000 proteins in blood samples from around 35,000 UK Biobank participants without previous heart disease.
The findings may help explain why some people remain at risk after their LDL cholesterol reaches a recommended level.
The study points to possible targets for more precise heart disease prevention.
- Who
- Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, led by postdoctoral fellow Jakub Morze.
- What
- They found shared blood protein patterns associated with TRL and Lp(a) that may relate to inflammation and heart disease.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Blood samples from UK Biobank participants; the research was conducted at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
- Why
- To investigate why heart disease risk can remain after LDL cholesterol reaches a recommended level.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The research group found that counting harmful particles was the most effective way to predict future heart disease risk and that TRL and Lp(a) were more harmful per particle than LDL.
Researchers examined blood proteins, genetic data and long-term health records to investigate how the particles may affect the body.
- Proteins measured
- Almost 3,000
- Participants
- Around 35,000 UK Biobank participants without previous heart disease
- Research institution
- Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
- Particles with shared patterns
- TRL and Lp(a)
- Lead author
- Jakub Morze
What people are saying
For this study, we wanted to understand what happens beyond the accumulation of cholesterol in artery walls, whether different fat-carrying particles can damage the blood vessels differently and why the remaining risk of heart disease still occurs,