Abstract

Atherosclerosis: Molecular Mechanisms, Current and Emerging Therapies, and the Potential Of Nutraceuticals In the Prevention/Treatment of this Disease

Dipak Ramji, Professor, Cardiff University

Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disorder of medium and large arteries and the underlying cause of heart attacks and stroke, is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other disease. Although some reduction in the incidences of this disease has been achieved recently by pharmaceutical intervention and lifestyle changes, this is expected to reverse in the future because of worldwide increase in obesity and diabetes. Current pharmaceutical therapies against atherosclerosis are associated with a marked residual risk for cardiovascular disease together with other issues such as side effects. In addition, many pharmaceutical agents against promising targets have proved disappointing at the clinical level. It is therefore essential that the molecular basis of atherosclerosis is understood in detail and new therapeutic/preventative agents or targets are identified. The major focus of research in my laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of the inflammatory response on atherosclerosis with emphasis on macrophages, which are involved in all stages of the disease, and the actions of preventative/therapeutic agents. Our research has particularly provided novel insights into the actions of cytokines and nutraceuticals. This presentation will discuss the molecular basis of atherosclerosis and opportunities for drug discovery, current therapies against the disease and their limitations, emerging therapies targeting lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response, and the potential of nutraceuticals as preventative/therapeutic agents.