| abstract |
This invention provides methods for identifying agents that can be used for treating or ameliorating symptoms of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or conditions, e.g., atherosclerosis. Specifically, the methods comprising contacting a plurality of candidate compounds with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) bearing CVD risk 9p21.3 haplotype, examining the compounds-contacted iPSCs' differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells ("VSMC differentiation"), wherein an improved VSMC differentiation of iPSCs contacted with a specific candidate compound is identified as an agent for treating or ameliorating symptoms of CVDs. |