Quitting Smoking Is Highly Important for Patients with Atherosclerosis
Collaboration between researchers from different institutions in Turku has led to a pioneering research which opens up new avenues to understanding the development mechanisms of atherosclerosis. Of the risk factors, smoking has a particularly adverse effect on the purine metabolism which is important for the health of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis, i.e. arteriosclerotic vascular disease, has mostly been researched on patients suffering from coronary artery disease. Even though atherosclerosis has many similar symptoms in its target organs, the characteristics of the disease differ in different parts of the body.
The Medicity research laboratory of the University of Turku and the Department of Vascular Surgery of Turku University Hospital have in collaboration conducted pioneering research on the cell-level chemical mechanism of atherosclerosis that regulate the function of the innermost layer of the arteries.
– The research is a great example of co-operation between clinical and basic research, which is important especially now when conducting clinical research in Finland has become more and more difficult, says Academy Professor Sirpa Jalkanen from the University of Turku.
The extensive research project has studied the function of the purine metabolism markers, which affect the the health of the artery wall and the coagulation of blood, both in healthy patients and patients with atherosclerosis.
For the first time ever, it was found in a wide group of patients with an arteriosclerotic vascular disease that the purine metabolism is significantly disturbed in atherosclerosis.
– We can conclude from our research results that the typical risk factors in atherosclerosis, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes, lipoidosis and especially smoking, have an adverse effect on the purine metabolism by increasing the coagulation of blood. Also the ability of the purine metabolism to remove the harmful characteristics of smoking affects the quick progress of atherosclerosis for its part in an individual patient.
The Results Create New Possibilities for Drug Development
The results of the recently completed study open completely new views into the development mechanisms of atherosclerosis.
– With the results, we can maximise the help smoking patients get from the atherosclerosis treatment by targeting the existing drugs correctly. On the other hand, the research suggests that it is very important for those suffering from atherosclerosis to quit smoking
In the future, the results can lead to the development of new drugs. Medicine could slow down the progress of atherosclerosis or even prevent the development of obstructions in the arteries that constrict blood flow.
The results of the Role of Purinergic Signaling in Atherosclerosis (PURE ASO) research project were published in the esteemed Circulation Research journal.
Text: Jussi Matikainen
Photo: Hanna Oksanen
Translation: Mari Ratia