Researchers have identified a gene that may help explain why heart disease develops differently in women than in men, offering new insights into the biological mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease and paving the way for more personalized approaches to prevention and treatment.
A research team from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that the MYH9 gene may play a key role in the development of a specific type of arterial plaque that appears more frequently in women than in men. The findings were published in Circulation Research in April 2026.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers analyzed gene activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, which help maintain the structure of blood vessels and contribute to the formation of arterial plaque. The study included samples from more than 150 human donors, including 119 men and 32 women, alongside additional plaque data from population studies conducted in the Netherlands and Sweden.
Why the MYH9 Gene Matters
The study found that MYH9 was significantly more active in women and was associated with fibrous plaques containing a higher proportion of smooth muscle cells and less fat. These fibrous plaques are more commonly observed in women, particularly before the age of 50.
Researchers believe the gene may influence how blood vessel cells respond to mechanical stress, biological signals, and hormones, helping explain some of the biological differences in how coronary artery disease progresses between women and men.
A Step Toward Personalized Heart Care
Although the findings will not immediately change current clinical practice, they represent an important advance in understanding sex-specific cardiovascular disease. The researchers believe that identifying genetic differences such as the role of MYH9 could eventually improve risk assessment and support the development of precision medicine approaches that tailor prevention and treatment strategies to each patient’s biological profile—particularly for women.
