Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1)/Semicarbazide-Sensitive Amine Oxidase (SSAO): A Potential Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases

• Main Authors: Hui Li, Shiyu Du, Panpan Niu, Xiaosong Gu, Jun Wang, Ying Zhao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Pharmacology
• Subjects: VAP-1; inflammation; atherosclerosis; myocardial infarction; stroke
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.679707/full

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), whose enzymatic activity regulates the adhesion/exudation of leukocytes in/from blood vessels. Due to its abundant expressions in vascular systems and prominent roles in inflammations, increasing attentions have been paid to the roles of VAP-1/SSAO in atherosclerosis, a chronic vascular inflammation that eventually drives clinical cardiovascular events. Clinical studies have demonstrated a potential value of soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. Recent findings revealed that VAP-1 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and treatment with VAP-1 inhibitors alleviates the progression of atherosclerosis. This review will focus on the roles of VAP-1/SSAO in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and therapeutic potentials of VAP-1 inhibitors for cardiovascular diseases.