A research team identified the genetic mutation at the base of the atherosclerosis in Korat cats, a disease that affects the feline arteries making them rigid and inflamed. This discovery, detailed in a study published on Animal Geneticscould help reduce the incidence of the disease in animals and open new paths for the development of therapies for us humans.
It can be prevented. Felines affected by the disease have high levels of cholesterol in the blood, fat deposits in the blood vessels and clinical symptoms such as heart failure and kidney failure and arterial thrombosis in the lower limbs.
The reason would be a mutation of the LDLR gene (which is for Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptorlow density lipoprotein receptor), which plays a key role in the regulation of cholesterol and humans causes hypercholesterolemia.
While we often inherit this disease from a single parent, in cats the mutation must be handed down by both: “This discovery allows us to identify the carriers through genetic tests, helping the breeders of Gatti Korat to prevent the incidence of the disease”, explains Marjo Hytönen, coordinator of the research.
Absent gene, disease present. Due to evolution, cats also lack another key gene that helps to regulate cholesterol levels, called PCSK9, which regulates the amount of LDL receptors in humans (those who “capture” LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol) present in the liver.
Since in the absence of PCSK9, the LDL receptors increase and the elimination of cholesterol from the body improves, so far it was thought that the cats were more protected from arterial diseases: “It has been interesting to see how the absence of the PCSK9 gene does not protect the cats from arteriopathy at all”, comments Hannes Lohi, one of the authors.
“What discovered not only improves our understanding of the hypercholesterolemia of genetic origin and atherosclerosis in humans, but also lays the foundations for the development of new therapeutic routes”, concludes Lohi.