Why heart attack patients have more 'fat storage' protein
Regulation of Monocyte Perilipin-2 Expression in Acute and Chronic Coronary Syndromes: Pathogenetic Implications
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at a protein called PLIN2 that helps store fat in immune cells. Heart attack patients had more of this protein than people with stable heart disease, even though their cells had more machinery to break down proteins.
Surprising Findings
Higher proteasome activity in heart attack patients didn't reduce PLIN2 levels
Proteasomes are cellular 'garbage disposals' that normally break down proteins like PLIN2—yet they were more active in heart attack patients while PLIN2 remained elevated
Practical Takeaways
Monitor PLIN2 levels as a potential biomarker for heart attack risk in high-risk patients
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
This study looked at a protein called PLIN2 that helps store fat in immune cells. Heart attack patients had more of this protein than people with stable heart disease, even though their cells had more machinery to break down proteins.
Surprising Findings
Higher proteasome activity in heart attack patients didn't reduce PLIN2 levels
Proteasomes are cellular 'garbage disposals' that normally break down proteins like PLIN2—yet they were more active in heart attack patients while PLIN2 remained elevated
Practical Takeaways
Monitor PLIN2 levels as a potential biomarker for heart attack risk in high-risk patients
Publication
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Year
2025
Authors
F. Canonico, R. Laborante, Chiara Pidone, R. Vinci, M. Galli, E. Pisano, A. Bonanni, M. Di Sario, A. Severino, Lucia Lisi, D. Pedicino, Giovanna Liuzzo, M. Ruscica, Filippo Crea, Giuseppe Patti, Domenico D'amario
Related Content
Claims (10)
In people having a heart attack called STEMI, the amount of a protein called PLIN2 in certain blood cells is higher than in people with stable heart disease, which might be related to why their heart attack happened.
In people with stable heart disease, when the proteasome (a cellular cleanup system) is more active, there's less PLIN2 protein present, but this relationship doesn't hold for people having a heart attack.
In people with heart disease, older patients tend to have higher levels of PLIN2 protein in their blood cells, and this relationship is stronger in those with stable heart disease than in those having a heart attack.
People having a heart attack have higher levels of harmful molecules called ROS/RNS in their blood compared to people with stable heart disease, which might be related to the heart attack process.
The types and amounts of fats inside blood cells were similar between people having a heart attack and those with stable heart disease, even though the PLIN2 protein levels were different between these groups.