Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in coronary artery disease have revealed gene variants highly expressed in vascular smooth muscles cells (SMCs). Research now suggests that loss of one, Prdm16, drives a switch toward a synthetic SMC phenotype, with robust, potentially protective extracellular matrix production and fibrous cap formation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Bjorkegren, J. L. M. & Lusis, A. J. Cell 185, 1630–1645 (2022).
Grootaert, M. O. J. & Bennett, M. R. Cardiovasc. Res. 117, 2326–2339 (2021).
Wissler, R. W. Circulation 36, 1–4 (1967).
Turner, A. W. et al. Nat. Genet. 54, 804–816 (2022).
van der Harst, P. & Verweij, N. Circ. Res. 122, 433–443 (2018).
Wirka, R. C. et al. Nat. Med. 25, 1280–1289 (2019).
Shankman, L. S. et al. Nat. Med. 21, 628–637 (2015).
Cherepanova, O. A. et al. Nat. Med. 22, 657–665 (2016).
Tan, J. M. E. et al. Nat. Cardiovasc. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-025-00737-8 (2025).
Van Wauwe, J. et al. Cardiovasc. Res. 121, 1156–1172 (2025).
Adachi, Y. et al. Nat. Commun. 13, 5117 (2022).
Wang, Z. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 135, e183409 (2024.
Wang, Z. et al. JCI Insight 8, e167041 (2023).
Ni, H. et al. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 41, 2399–2416 (2021).
Craps, S. et al. Circ. Res. 129, 63–77 (2021).
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (HL115141, HL167905, HL171239, HL134849, DK142281 to M.W.F.; HL149999, DK107239, HL127118-02, DI-2021C1-22309, Arbor Way Foundation to J.P.) and the American Heart Association (20SFRN35200163 to M.W.F.).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feinberg, M.W., Plutzky, J. Flipping the PRDM16 switch in ‘multifunctional mesenchymes’ may help to define atherosclerotic plaque. Nat Cardiovasc Res 4, 1459–1461 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-025-00743-w
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-025-00743-w
