New Treatment for Atherosclerosis Targets Inflammation and Plaque

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have unveiled a promising new approach to combat atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque buildup clogs arteries, leading to severe cardiac issues such as heart attacks and strokes.

In a study published in Cell Reports, the team identified a molecule called itaconate (ITA), which reduces inflammation and may form the foundation for a groundbreaking treatment for this widespread and life-threatening disease.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease remains the leading cause of death across genders and racial or ethnic groups. While medications and lifestyle changes—such as low-cholesterol, low-fat diets (LCLFD)—help reduce cardiovascular risk, many patients struggle to maintain strict dietary regimens over time.

The researchers discovered that ITA plays a critical role in stabilizing arterial plaques and reducing inflammation, explaining the molecular mechanism behind diet-induced improvements in heart health.

“We’ve demonstrated that itaconate is essential to the diet’s ability to resolve plaques and curb inflammation—an insight that has eluded researchers until now,” said Andrei Maiseyeu, associate professor at the Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve’s School of Medicine. “This finding represents a significant advancement in understanding how diet influences cardiovascular health at the molecular level.”

Building on this discovery, Maiseyeu and his team developed ITA-conjugated lipid nanoparticles (ITA-LNP), a novel treatment covered under U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/707,954. This therapeutic method directs ITA to accumulate in plaques and bone marrow, reducing inflammation and mimicking the benefits of a heart-healthy diet without requiring major lifestyle adjustments.

“We’ve already observed its effectiveness in multiple models of atherosclerosis,” Maiseyeu said. “We’re hopeful this will lead to superior treatments, dramatically reducing the long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes while enhancing patients’ quality of life.”

The team is now working to translate ITA-LNP into a clinical setting, including developing a pill form of the treatment. If successful, this innovation could provide a convenient and transformative option for managing cardiovascular disease.