NEWS

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, which is related to the complex inflammatory response triggered by the accumulation of cholesterol and the deposition of cholesterol crystals (CCS). The cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis is one of the most life-threatening diseases to human life.Scientists are looking at drug approaches that increase cholesterol solubility and metabolism to clear accumulated cholesterol as a strategy to prevent and treat atherosclerosis.It is by far the most effective means of preventing the disease, but existing treatment options are not perfect and do not work for all patients.Therefore, there is an urgent need to find other new ways to lower cholesterol levels.

Recently, in Science Translational Medicine, an international team of researchers from Germany, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and other countries reported a novel method of treating atherosclerosis using cyclodextrin (CD).Cyclodextrin has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a pharmaceutical solvent and is safe for human use.The scientists found that the compound increased cholesterol solubility, allowed it to be removed from atherosclerotic sites, dissolved cholesterol crystals, and successfully treated atherosclerosis in a mouse model.Because of its proven safety, this drug is a potential candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis in humans.

The idea of using cyclodextrin to treat atherosclerosis came from Chris Hempel, one of the authors of this article.Unfortunately, two of her children suffered from a rare disease called Niemann-Pick Type C disease. Due to the genetic mutation, the children's cholesterol accumulation occurred in their bodies, leading to a series of cognitive and mobility impairments. Fortunately, the subsequent cyclodextrin treatment brought ideal efficacy.When Hempel learned about the research of Professor Eicke Latz at the University Hospital of Bonn in Germany, she contacted him and suggested trying cyclodextrin to treat atherosclerosis, which is also associated with cholesterol buildup.

The team tested the efficacy of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) in preventing and reversing atherosclerosis.They found that CD treatment reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and cholesterol load and promoted plaque regression in atherosclerotic mice, even when they were continuously fed a cholesterol-rich diet.