"ID3 Links Genetic Variation to Vascular and Immune Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis" 55 views

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Improved patient education and novel treatment options have greatly contributed to the reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity. However, a significant proportion of patients remain at high risk for both new and recurrent ischemic events, despite receiving aggressive risk mitigation. While several large genetic association studies have identified many variants associated with CVD, determination of how such variants mechanistically influence the biology of key cellular mediators of atherosclerosis is rare. The studies included in this dissertation explore how a single nucleotide polymorphism in the ID3 gene affects the biochemical properties of ID3 both in vitro and in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that disruption of ID3 expression in murine B cells results in decreased atheroprotective marginal zone B cell development and function. Our findings provide a link between human genetic variation and the physiological functioning of cell types involved in the regulation of atherosclerosis.

PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)

atherosclerosis; ascvd; immunology; b cells; MZB; VSMC; ID3; SNP; rs11574; E-protein; ID protein; helix-loop-helix

English

2026-05-02