title: The role of DNA damage and repair in atherosclerosis: A review.
abstract: The global burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing despite therapeutic advances in medication and interventional technologies. Accumulated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and subsequent repair pathways are now increasingly recognised as a causal factor in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. These molecular alterations have been shown to occur within affected vasculature, plaque microenvironment as well as in circulating cells. The DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is reliant on post-translational modification of sensing proteins which activate a signalling cascade to repair, if possible, DNA damaged sites in response to various environmental and physiological insults. This review summarises the current evidence for DNA damage in atherosclerosis, the key steps involved in the DDR pathway, DNA repair and their subsequent effects on atherosclerotic plaques, as well as the therapeutic options in managing DNA damage-induced atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK. Electronic address: nikunjravshah@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nikunj R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; St. Peter's Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0PZ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Repair enzymes