Researchers identify potential mechanisms to combat hypertension and high cholesterol

Scientists are uncovering new biological mechanisms that could lead to improved treatments for cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine have found that regular consumption of Japanese plum concentrate, known as bainiku-ekisu, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In studies involving mice, the extract prevented the development of hypertension and protected blood vessels from the harmful effects of angiotensin II, a hormone that influences blood pressure.

Separately, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have identified a mechanism explaining why high-cholesterol diets can impair the body’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol. The study, published in Nature, found that high cholesterol levels activate the Ral protein, which triggers a chain of events leading to a reduction in LDL receptors in the liver. The team also identified the enzyme cathepsin A (CTSA) as a factor in this process and has identified an experimental drug that has already passed human safety tests.