Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Granzyme K⁺ CD8⁺ T Cells as a Target for Mitigating Plaque Instability Following Radiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiac issues following radiotherapy are increasingly prevalent among patients with thoracic cancer and coronary disease. However, the mechanisms underlying radiotherapy-induced plaque instability and changes in plaque characteristics on imaging remain unclear. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify key features of vulnerable plaques following radiotherapy.

Methods

We applied dual-mode synchronized optical coherence tomography-intravascular ultrasound imaging in a rabbit model to reveal the characteristics of vulnerable plaques at various time points postradiotherapy. We then conducted single-cell RNA sequencing on atherosclerotic lesions from ApoE^-/- (apolipoprotein E^-/-) mice across 3 stages: nonirradiated, early irr

SUBMITTER: Shi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12554401 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature