MSU research shows promise clearing arterial plaque

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Researchers at Michigan State University are working on a new treatment that could cut down on one of most common causes of heart disease.

The research group has developed a nanotherapy infusion that reportedly targets blood vessel inflammation and helps activate the body’s immune system to help clear out arterial plaque.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the most common killer among Americans. In 2022, more than 700,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease, approximately 1 out of every 5 deaths.

In a university blog post , MSU associate professor Bryan Smith explained the two key threats that arterial plaque generates. One is when plaque causes a notable blockage in the artery — in some cases up to 99% — which can cause pain or pressure in the chest and other symptoms and lead to heart attacks and heart failure. The plaque, however, can also become inflamed, which makes it vulnerable to rupture and can lead to blockages elsewhere.

According to Smith, inflamed plaque is more likely to cause a sudden heart attack.

“That’s the scarier one,” Smith said. “Because such plaques don’t necessarily block much of the artery, and because the effects of the rupture can very suddenly completely block blood flow, such a heart attack can seem to appear as if from nowhere.”

The new treatment uses nanoparticles — material thinner than a human hair — in an infusion. It targets specific immune cells that gloms onto the plaque and “eats” away at it, reducing blockages and cutting down the risk of inflammation.

According to MSU, previous experiments in mice and pigs showed the infusion was effective and, notably, didn’t produce any major side effects. The latest study was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The university said the results will allow the team to move forward with the treatment. Patient clinical trials are the next big step, however no timetable for when those could start has been announced.

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