Unveiling HPV's hidden link: Cardiovascular diseases and the viral intrigue.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major global health challenge, with an escalating impact on mortality despite advancements in managing conventional risk factors. This review investigates the intricate relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and CVD, shedding light on a novel aspect of cardiovascular health. Despite significant progress in understanding and managing traditional CVD risk factors, a substantial proportion of CVD cases lack these conventional markers. Recent research has unveiled HPV, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, as a potential unconventional risk factor for CVD. This review delves into the underlying mechanisms linking HPV to CVD pathogenesis. HPV's influence on vascular endothelium and induction of systemic inflammation are key contributors. Additionally, HPV disrupts host lipid metabolism, further exacerbating the development of atherosclerosis. The link between HPV and CAD is not merely correlative; it encompasses a complex interplay of virological, immunological, and metabolic factors. Understanding the connection between HPV and CVD holds transformative potential. Insights from this review not only underscore the significance of considering HPV as a crucial risk factor but also advocate for targeted HPV screening and vaccination strategies to mitigate CVD risks. This multidisciplinary exploration bridges the gap between infectious diseases and cardiovascular health, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to combating the global burden of cardiovascular disease. Further research and clinical guidelines in this realm are essential to harness the full scope of preventive and therapeutic interventions, ultimately shaping a healthier cardiovascular landscape.

CAR-T-Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) and Beyond.

Significant progress has been achieved in the realm of therapeutic interventions for multiple myeloma (MM), leading to transformative shifts in its clinical management. While conventional modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have improved the clinical outcomes, the overarching challenge of effecting a comprehensive cure for patients afflicted with relapsed and refractory MM (RRMM) endures. Notably, adoptive cellular therapy, especially chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, has exhibited efficacy in patients with refractory or resistant B-cell malignancies and is now also being tested in patients with MM. Within this context, the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has emerged as a promising candidate for CAR-T-cell antigen targeting in MM. Alternative targets include SLAMF7, CD38, CD19, the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule CS1, NKG2D, and CD138. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of these CAR-T-cell therapies, although longitudinal follow-up reveals some degree of antigenic escape. The widespread implementation of CAR-T-cell therapy is encumbered by several barriers, including antigenic evasion, uneven intratumoral infiltration in solid cancers, cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, logistical implementation, and financial burden. This article provides an overview of CAR-T-cell therapy in MM and the utilization of BCMA as the target antigen, as well as an overview of other potential target moieties.