title: Cellular Repressor of E1A-stimulated Genes, A New Potential Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and a major risk factor for several important cardiovascular events, particularly coronary artery disease and stroke. The pathological process of atherosclerosis is considered to be dynamic and complicated, involving interactions between various different cell types within arteries and the cells that migrate into the vessel wall.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Human cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) was originally identified as a transcription factor with the ability to antagonize transcriptional activation and cellular transformation induced by the adenovirus E1A oncoprotein. However, subsequent studies also identified it as a secreted glycoprotein able to sustain cellular homeostasis and withstand pathological cell and tissue damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that CREG may modulate homeostasis of vascular wall cells and inhibit inflammation of vascular tissue cells and macrophages, indicating a potential protective effect of CREG against inflammation. Mechanistically, CREG behaves like a typical soluble lysosomal protein that regulates the formation and maturation of lysosomes by modulating the small GTPase protein Rab7, to mediate autophagy in vascular tissue cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of CREG on lysosome formation may have important therapeutic significance in atherosclerosis.
authors: Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, 83 Wenhua Road, 110840 Shenyang, China.
authors: Xiaoxiang
authors: X
authors: Tian
authors: Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, 83 Wenhua Road, 110840 Shenyang, China.
authors: Chenghui
authors: C
authors: Yan
authors: Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, 83 Wenhua Road, 110840 Shenyang, China.
authors: Yaling
authors: Y
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001343:Autophagy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: C114068:CREG1 protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins; C000716463:rab7 GTP-binding proteins, human; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Atherosclerosis; autophagy; cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes; coronary artery disease; lysosome; stroke