Transcriptomic-based clustering of human atherosclerotic plaques identifies subgroups with different underlying biology and clinical presentation.

ABSTRACT: Histopathological studies have revealed key processes of atherosclerotic plaque thrombosis. However, the diversity and complexity of lesion types highlight the need for improved sub-phenotyping. Here we analyze the gene expression profiles of 654 advanced human carotid plaques. The unsupervised, transcriptome-driven clustering revealed five dominant plaque types. These plaque phenotypes were associated with clinical presentation and showed differences in cellular compositions. Validation in coronary segments showed that the molecular signature of these plaques was linked to coronary ischemia. One of the plaque types with the most severe clinical symptoms pointed to both inflammatory and fibrotic cell lineages. Further, we did a preliminary analysis of potential circulating biomarkers that

SUBMITTER: Mokry M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10621615 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature