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Netrin-1 and RGMa: Novel Regulators of Atherosclerosis-Related Diseases

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Abstract

Backgrounds

Neuronal guidance proteins (NGPs) have been demonstrated to guide the elongation of neuronal axonal growth cones in the developing central nervous system. Non-neuronal functions of NGPs have also been described, especially in relation to atherosclerosis.

Findings

Netrin-1 and repulsive guidance molecule a (RGMa) are NGPs that have been shown to regulate endothelial cell adhesion and angiogenesis, macrophage migration and apoptosis, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) phenotypic dedifferentiation and mobility, chemokine activities, and inflammatory responses during atherosclerosis initiation and progression.

Purposes

However, mechanistic studies have generated controversy about the specific role of Netrin-1 in atherosclerosis due to the diversity of its structure, receptors and cell sources, and the actions of RGMa in atherosclerosis have not been reported in previous reviews. Therefore, the current work reviews the evidence for roles of Netrin-1 and RGMa in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and discusses potential therapeutic targets in the future.

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Data Availability

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Acknowledgments

Figures 1 and 2 were produced by the authors using Figdraw. We acknowledge the work of Home for Researchers (www.home-for-researchers.com).

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82071338).

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Author notes

  1. Xiaofan Yuan and Guanru Shen contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, China

    Xiaofan Yuan, Guanru Shen, Hongmei Xiao, Zijie Wang, Yue Ma & Xinyue Qin

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  1. Xiaofan Yuan
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  3. Hongmei Xiao
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Contributions

Study concept: Xiaofan Yuan, Guanru Shen, and Xinyue Qin. Designed figures: Hongmei Xiao and Zijie Wang. Drafted the manuscript: Xiaofan Yuan, Yue Ma, and Xinyue Qin.

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Correspondence to Xinyue Qin.

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Yuan, X., Shen, G., Xiao, H. et al. Netrin-1 and RGMa: Novel Regulators of Atherosclerosis-Related Diseases. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-023-07478-5

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