Why Atherosclerotic Plaques Are More Dangerous in Type 2 Diabetes? Study Sheds Light

The researchers have carried out detailed analyses of atherosclerotic plaques from a total of 219 individuals with cardiovascular diseases, and of these, 72 had type 2 diabetes. Atherosclerosis means that fats, cells, calcium and connective tissue have accumulated for a long time on the inside of the arteries, forming what are known as atherosclerotic plaques. The research team found that atherosclerotic plaques from patients with type 2 diabetes had lower levels of protective connective tissue in comparison with plaques from those without diabetes. The reason for this seems to be a lack of a specific growth factor called TGF-beta2. The research team also found that high blood sugar levels can be linked to a reduced ability to form protective connective tissue in the atherosclerotic plaques, which leads to an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.

Reference: Singh, P., Sun, J., Cavalera, M. et al. Dysregulation of MMP2-dependent TGF-ß2 activation impairs fibrous cap formation in type 2 diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. Nat Commun 15, 10464 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50753-8