MED5542 Basic Science Review: Atherosclerosis and Mitochondria

This review essay delves into the intricate relationship between atherosclerosis, a prevalent cardiovascular disease, and mitochondrial dysfunction. It begins by establishing atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease characterized by lipid and protein oxidation, emphasizing the role of LDL and oxidative stress in initiating the disease process. The essay then transitions to the core focus: the involvement of mitochondria. Mitochondria, known as the powerhouses of cells, are also significant sources and targets of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The essay explores the mitochondrial dysfunction theory, which posits that excessive ROS and RNS production can lead to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and smooth muscle cell proliferation, exacerbating atherosclerosis. The review further highlights the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on vascular cell growth, apoptosis, and plaque rupture, ultimately leading to myocardial infarction and damage. The essay references key research findings, including studies on the impact of hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolemia, and aging on mitochondrial function. It concludes by underscoring the importance of normal mitochondrial function in preventing atherosclerosis and the implications of dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.

Running head: ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Atherosclerosis
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common cardiovascular disease throughout the
world. It is caused by the deposition of cholesterol inside the arteries of the vein resulting in
narrowing of area. The deposition transforms into plague overtime with macrophages,
calcium, and cholesterol. Stroke or heart attack occurs when these plague breaks allowing the
blood to pass through it, which leads to clotting of the blood inside the artery. The symptoms
of this sclerosis depend upon the arteries which it get affected. The types of arteries are
carotid, kidney. The diagnosis of this disease can be done by blood tests, physical
examination, ultrasound, and CT scan. This disease can be treatment changing lifestyle,
medication like statins which lowers the cholesterol level of the body and finally angioplasty.
Mitochondria are the site associated with the production of reactive oxygen species.
Accumulation of the damaged mitochondrial DNA, impairment of respiratory function is also
involved in this state because of production of stress condition in the body (Yu, Mercer and
Bennett, 2012). The dysfunction occurs due to hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolemia and
also hypertriglyceridemia and also aging process of the body (Peng et al. 2019). Excessive
production of reactive oxygen species leads to the devastation of the pancreatic cells,
increased oxidation of lipoprotein and also impairment of the endothelial cells causes
atherosclerosis. Normal mitochondria functions are required for the vascular cell growth,
abnormal functions leads to apoptosis, preferring plaque rupture. Flow restrictive plaque
separation leads to myocardial infraction and damage. Mitochondrial dysfunction elevates the
AMP/ATP which activates the AMPK signalling increasing the catabolism and inhibiting the
anabolic process, all these things are highly related with heart disease due to stress of the
body leading to atherosclerosis.

2ATHEROSCLEROSIS
References
Peng, W., Cai, G., Xia, Y., Chen, J., Wu, P., Wang, Z., Li, G. and Wei, D., 2019.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in atherosclerosis. DNA and cell biology, 38(7), pp.597-606.
Yu, E., Mercer, J. and Bennett, M., 2012. Mitochondria in vascular disease. Cardiovascular
research, 95(2), pp.173-182.