Scientists have found that a gene often known as the “guardian of the genome” plays a significant role in the event of atherosclerotic heart problems.

The study, published within the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, found that acquired mutations within the gene encoding the protein p53 can result in atherosclerosis, the underlying explanation for most cardiovascular diseases. 

The research was led by a team on the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), working in collaboration with institutes within the U.S.

It is understood that p53 gene mutations in blood cells up the danger of developing various kinds of cancer, akin to blood cancers, in line with MedicalXpress.

The role of p53 is to keep up the integrity of the DNA inside cells by regulating cell functions against cellular stresses. On any given day, the human adult body produces tons of of 1000’s of blood cells. This process, though vital, unavoidably increases the probabilities of mutations within the progenitor cells that produced the blood cells.

In the brand new study, scientists found a powerful association between p53 gene mutations and the looks of atherosclerosis, a precursor for heart problems, which causes essentially the most variety of deaths globally and in addition poses an enormous burden on health care systems.

For the study, scientists analyzed sequencing data from the blood cells of greater than 50,000 people.

“We found that carriers of acquired mutations in p53 had the next risk of developing coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease, and this effect was independent of established cardiovascular risk aspects like hypertension or elevated blood cholesterol,” Dr. José Javier Fuster of the CNIC group explained, the outlet reported.

To further analyze their findings, researchers conducted animal studies. The scientists used animal models of atherosclerosis after which introduced cells carrying p53 mutations of their bodies.

Mice carrying these mutations developed heart problems more rapidly, the study found. The explanation for disease progression was largely attributable to an unusually high proliferation rate of immune cells within the artery partitions.

“This mixture of observations in humans with experimental studies in animals provides solid evidence that these mutations increase the danger of developing heart problems,” Dr. Valentín Fuster, CNIC General Director, President of Mount Sinai Heart and Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital and an writer on the study, said.

Fuster further said these findings “broaden our knowledge of how the acquisition of mutations in blood cells, a phenomenon called clonal hematopoiesis, acts as a cardiovascular risk factor.”

The study showcases that different mechanisms can contribute to heart problems attributable to mutations in several genes.

“In the long run, this may very well be exploited to design personalized prevention strategies targeting the particular effects of various mutations,” CNIC scientist Nuria Matesanz, co-first writer of the study, said.

In other news, a recent study has found that children born via C-section (caesareans) are at the next risk of developing heart problems and obesity. “Growing rates of C-sections conducted for non-clinical reasons is a significant public health concern that calls for a discount in the speed of unnecessary C-sections and their associated human and economic costs,” co-author Dr. Tahmina Begum from the University of Queensland said.