Treatment Target Discovery From Vasculo-Protective Phenotypes

With advances in genetic studies and bioinformatic analysis techniques, treatment target discovery and drug development focusing on specific genes and proteins are rapidly increasing. For instance, studies of populations with protective lipid profiles have led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and subsequent drug development. Meanwhile, high-density lipoprotein-dependent centripetal cholesterol transport has been steadily investigated by atherosclerosis researchers. Recently, an association between hepatic Cdkal1 deficiency and increased centripetal cholesterol transport was reported. Additional treatment targets and drug developments are anticipated through genetic analyses of diverse populations exhibiting vasculo-protective phenotypes.