HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have identified a cellular signaling pathway in fat cells that may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, offering a potential new target for treating the disease. 

The study, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, found that blocking Na/K-ATPase (NKA) signaling specifically in adipocytes, or fat cells, reduced the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and decreased inflammation in blood vessels. The findings provide new insight into how dysfunction in fat tissue can contribute to vascular disease. 

“These results demonstrate that signaling originating in adipocytes can directly influence the development of atherosclerosis,” said Bruno Goncalves, Ph.D., research assistant professor at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and lead author of the study. 

Researchers examined how NKA signaling in adipocytes contributes to atherosclerosis using male and female Apoe knockout mice fed a Western diet. They evaluated the effects of inhibiting NKA signaling specifically in adipocytes on atherosclerotic plaque formation, vascular inflammation, oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction. 

“Understanding how adipocytes communicate with the vasculature may help us identify new approaches to reduce inflammation and cardiovascular risk,” said Komal Sodhi, M.D., associate professor at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and principal investigator and corresponding author of the study. 

The findings underscore the role of adipose tissue in cardiovascular disease, particularly in conditions associated with obesity and metabolic dysfunction. By identifying adipocyte NKA signaling as a regulator of oxidative stress, inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque development, the study provides a foundation for further research into therapies that target the relationship between adipose tissue and vascular disease. 

The research was conducted by scientists in the departments of surgery and biomedical sciences at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in collaboration with researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Versiti Blood Research Institute and supported by the National Institutes of Health under grant R01 HL164460-01A1. 

The full study, “Na/K-ATPase Signaling in Adipocytes Promotes Atherosclerosis,” is available online at doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.126.325070.

Date Posted: Thursday, September 3, 2026