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Diez Benavente E, Hartman RJG, Sakkers TR, Wesseling M, Sloots Y, Slenders L, Boltjes A, Mol BM, de Borst GJ, de Kleijn DPV, Prange KHM, de Winther MPJ, Kuiper J, Civelek M, van der Laan SW, Horvath S, Onland-Moret NC, Mokry M, Pasterkamp G, den Ruijter HM. Atherosclerotic Plaque Epigenetic Age Acceleration Predicts a Poor Prognosis and Is Associated With Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Humans. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1419-1431. [PMID: 38634280 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic age estimators (clocks) are predictive of human mortality risk. However, it is not yet known whether the epigenetic age of atherosclerotic plaques is predictive for the risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS Whole-genome DNA methylation of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques (n=485) and of blood (n=93) from the Athero-Express endarterectomy cohort was used to calculate epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). EAA was linked to clinical characteristics, plaque histology, and future cardiovascular events (n=136). We studied whole-genome DNA methylation and bulk and single-cell transcriptomics to uncover molecular mechanisms of plaque EAA. We experimentally confirmed our in silico findings using in vitro experiments in primary human coronary endothelial cells. RESULTS Male and female patients with severe atherosclerosis had a median chronological age of 69 years. The median epigenetic age was 65 years in females (median EAA, -2.2 [interquartile range, -4.3 to 2.2] years) and 68 years in males (median EAA, -0.3 [interquartile range, -2.9 to 3.8] years). Patients with diabetes and a high body mass index had higher plaque EAA. Increased EAA of plaque predicted future events in a 3-year follow-up in a Cox regression model (univariate hazard ratio, 1.7; P=0.0034) and adjusted multivariate model (hazard ratio, 1.56; P=0.02). Plaque EAA predicted outcome independent of blood EAA (hazard ratio, 1.3; P=0.018) and of plaque hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 1.7; P=0.02). Single-cell RNA sequencing in plaque samples from 46 patients in the same cohort revealed smooth muscle and endothelial cells as important cell types in plaque EAA. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition was associated with EAA, which was experimentally confirmed by TGFβ-triggered endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition inducing rapid epigenetic aging in coronary endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS Plaque EAA is a strong and independent marker of poor outcome in patients with severe atherosclerosis. Plaque EAA was linked to mesenchymal endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition was associated with EAA, which was experimentally validated. Epigenetic aging mechanisms may provide new targets for treatments that reduce atherosclerosis complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Robin J G Hartman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Tim R Sakkers
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Wesseling
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Yannicke Sloots
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Slenders
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan Boltjes
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Barend M Mol
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gert J de Borst
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Dominique P V de Kleijn
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Koen H M Prange
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands (K.H.M.P., M.P.J.d.W., J.K.)
| | - Menno P J de Winther
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands (K.H.M.P., M.P.J.d.W., J.K.)
| | - Johan Kuiper
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands (K.H.M.P., M.P.J.d.W., J.K.)
| | - Mete Civelek
- Center for Public Health Genomics (M.C.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (M.C.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Sander W van der Laan
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine (S.H.), University of California, Los Angeles
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health (S.H.), University of California, Los Angeles
- Altos Labs, Cambridge Institute of Science, United Kingdom (S.H.)
| | - N Charlotte Onland-Moret
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care (N.C.O.-M.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (M.W., L.S., A.B., S.W.v.d.L., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., R.J.G.H., T.R.S., Y.S., M.M., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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van der Ark-Vonk EM, Puijk MV, Pasterkamp G, van der Laan SW. The Effects of FABP4 on Cardiovascular Disease in the Aging Population. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2024; 26:163-175. [PMID: 38698167 PMCID: PMC11087245 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-024-01196-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) plays a role in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health. In this paper, we cover FABP4 biology, its implications in atherosclerosis from observational studies, genetic factors affecting FABP4 serum levels, and ongoing drug development to target FABP4 and offer insights into future FABP4 research. RECENT FINDINGS FABP4 impacts cells through JAK2/STAT2 and c-kit pathways, increasing inflammatory and adhesion-related proteins. In addition, FABP4 induces angiogenesis and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. FABP4 is established as a reliable predictive biomarker for cardiovascular disease in specific at-risk groups. Genetic studies robustly link PPARG and FABP4 variants to FABP4 serum levels. Considering the potential effects on atherosclerotic lesion development, drug discovery programs have been initiated in search for potent inhibitors of FABP4. Elevated FABP4 levels indicate an increased cardiovascular risk and is causally related to acceleration of atherosclerotic disease, However, clinical trials for FABP4 inhibition are lacking, possibly due to concerns about available compounds' side effects. Further research on FABP4 genetics and its putative causal role in cardiovascular disease is needed, particularly in aging subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M van der Ark-Vonk
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mike V Puijk
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sander W van der Laan
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Maier A, Teunissen AJP, Nauta SA, Lutgens E, Fayad ZA, van Leent MMT. Uncovering atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by PET imaging. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024:10.1038/s41569-024-01009-x. [PMID: 38575752 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Assessing atherosclerosis severity is essential for precise patient stratification. Specifically, there is a need to identify patients with residual inflammation because these patients remain at high risk of cardiovascular events despite optimal management of cardiovascular risk factors. Molecular imaging techniques, such as PET, can have an essential role in this context. PET imaging can indicate tissue-based disease status, detect early molecular changes and provide whole-body information. Advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics continue to help to decipher the complex pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and inform the development of imaging tracers. Concomitant advances in tracer synthesis methods and PET imaging technology provide future possibilities for atherosclerosis imaging. In this Review, we summarize the latest developments in PET imaging techniques and technologies for assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and discuss the relationship between imaging readouts and transcriptomics-based plaque phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Maier
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Abraham J P Teunissen
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheqouia A Nauta
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Esther Lutgens
- Cardiovascular Medicine and Immunology, Experimental Cardiovascular Immunology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Zahi A Fayad
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mandy M T van Leent
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Wu X, Zhang H. Omics Approaches Unveiling the Biology of Human Atherosclerotic Plaques. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:482-498. [PMID: 38280419 PMCID: PMC10988765 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, characterized by the buildup of plaques with the accumulation and transformation of lipids, immune cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and necrotic cell debris. Plaques with collagen-poor thin fibrous caps infiltrated by macrophages and lymphocytes are considered unstable because they are at the greatest risk of rupture and clinical events. However, the current histologic definition of plaque types may not fully capture the complex molecular nature of atherosclerotic plaque biology and the underlying mechanisms contributing to plaque progression, rupture, and erosion. The advances in omics technologies have changed the understanding of atherosclerosis plaque biology, offering new possibilities to improve risk prediction and discover novel therapeutic targets. Genomic studies have shed light on the genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis, and integrative genomic analyses expedite the translation of genomic discoveries. Transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic studies have refined the understanding of the molecular signature of atherosclerotic plaques, aiding in data-driven hypothesis generation for mechanistic studies and offering new prospects for biomarker discovery. Furthermore, advancements in single-cell technologies and emerging spatial analysis techniques have unveiled the heterogeneity and plasticity of plaque cells. This review discusses key omics-based discoveries that have advanced the understanding of human atherosclerotic plaque biology, focusing on insights derived from omics profiling of human atherosclerotic vascular specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wu
- Cardiometabolic Genomics Program, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Cardiometabolic Genomics Program, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
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Baaten CCFMJ, Nagy M, Bergmeier W, Spronk HMH, van der Meijden PEJ. Platelet biology and function: plaque erosion vs. rupture. Eur Heart J 2024; 45:18-31. [PMID: 37940193 PMCID: PMC10757869 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The leading cause of heart disease in developed countries is coronary atherosclerosis, which is not simply a result of ageing but a chronic inflammatory process that can lead to acute clinical events upon atherosclerotic plaque rupture or erosion and arterial thrombus formation. The composition and location of atherosclerotic plaques determine the phenotype of the lesion and whether it is more likely to rupture or to erode. Although plaque rupture and erosion both initiate platelet activation on the exposed vascular surface, the contribution of platelets to thrombus formation differs between the two phenotypes. In this review, plaque phenotype is discussed in relation to thrombus composition, and an overview of important mediators (haemodynamics, matrix components, and soluble factors) in plaque-induced platelet activation is given. As thrombus formation on disrupted plaques does not necessarily result in complete vessel occlusion, plaque healing can occur. Therefore, the latest findings on plaque healing and the potential role of platelets in this process are summarized. Finally, the clinical need for more effective antithrombotic agents is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance C F M J Baaten
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Magdolna Nagy
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Bergmeier
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Blood Research Center, School of Medicine, University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Henri M H Spronk
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Thrombosis Expertise Center, Heart+ Vascular Center, Maastricht University Medical Center+, P. Debeyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Paola E J van der Meijden
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Thrombosis Expertise Center, Heart+ Vascular Center, Maastricht University Medical Center+, P. Debeyelaan 25, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Garg PK, Bhatia HS, Allen TS, Grainger T, Pouncey AL, Dichek D, Virmani R, Golledge J, Allison MA, Powell JT. Assessment of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic People In Vivo: Measurements Suitable for Biomarker and Mendelian Randomization Studies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:24-47. [PMID: 38150519 PMCID: PMC10753091 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One strategy to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease is the early detection and treatment of atherosclerosis. This has led to significant interest in studies of subclinical atherosclerosis, using different phenotypes, not all of which are accurate reflections of the presence of asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of part 2 of this series is to provide a review of the existing literature on purported measures of subclinical disease and recommendations concerning which tests may be appropriate in the prevention of incident cardiovascular disease. METHODS We conducted a critical review of measurements used to infer the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in the major conduit arteries and focused on the predictive value of these tests for future cardiovascular events, independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors, in asymptomatic people. The emphasis was on studies with >10 000 person-years of follow-up, with meta-analysis of results reporting adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs. The arterial territories were limited to carotid, coronary, aorta, and lower limb arteries. RESULTS In the carotid arteries, the presence of plaque (8 studies) was independently associated with future stroke (pooled HR, 1.89 [1.04-3.44]) and cardiac events (7 studies), with a pooled HR, 1.77 (1.19-2.62). Increased coronary artery calcium (5 studies) was associated with the risk of coronary heart disease events, pooled HR, 1.54 (1.07-2.07) and increasing severity of calcification (by Agaston score) was associated with escalation of risk (13 studies). An ankle/brachial index (ABI) of <0.9, the pooled HR for cardiovascular death from 7 studies was 2.01 (1.43-2.81). There were insufficient studies of either, thoracic or aortic calcium, aortic diameter, or femoral plaque to synthesize the data based on consistent reporting of these measures. CONCLUSIONS The presence of carotid plaque, coronary artery calcium, or abnormal ankle pressures seems to be a valid indicator of the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis and may be considered for use in biomarker, Mendelian randomization and similar studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen K Garg
- Division of Cardiology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles (G.P.)
| | - Harpreet S Bhatia
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California San Diego (B.H., A.T., A.M.A.)
| | - Tara S Allen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California San Diego (B.H., A.T., A.M.A.)
| | - Tabitha Grainger
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London (G.T., P.A.-L., P.J.T.)
| | - Anna L Pouncey
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London (G.T., P.A.-L., P.J.T.)
| | - David Dichek
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle (D.D.)
| | | | - Jonathan Golledge
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital, Australia (G.J.)
| | - Matthew A Allison
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California San Diego (B.H., A.T., A.M.A.)
| | - Janet T Powell
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London (G.T., P.A.-L., P.J.T.)
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Benincasa G, Suades R, Padró T, Badimon L, Napoli C. Bioinformatic platforms for clinical stratification of natural history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL. CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY 2023; 9:758-769. [PMID: 37562936 DOI: 10.1093/ehjcvp/pvad059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Although bioinformatic methods gained a lot of attention in the latest years, their use in real-world studies for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) is still lacking. Bioinformatic resources have been applied to thousands of individuals from the Framingham Heart Study as well as health care-associated biobanks such as the UK Biobank, the Million Veteran Program, and the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium and randomized controlled trials (i.e. ODYSSEY, FOURIER, ASPREE, and PREDIMED). These studies contributed to the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS), which emerged as novel potent genetic-oriented tools, able to calculate the individual risk of ASCVD and to predict the individual response to therapies such as statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor. ASCVD are the first cause of death around the world including coronary heart disease (CHD), peripheral artery disease, and stroke. To achieve the goal of precision medicine and personalized therapy, advanced bioinformatic platforms are set to link clinically useful indices to heterogeneous molecular data, mainly epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics. The DIANA study found that differential methylation of ABCA1, TCF7, PDGFA, and PRKCZ significantly discriminated patients with acute coronary syndrome from healthy subjects and their expression levels positively associated with CK-MB serum concentrations. The ARIC Study revealed several plasma proteins, acting or not in lipid metabolism, with a potential role in determining the different pleiotropic effects of statins in each subject. The implementation of molecular high-throughput studies and bioinformatic techniques into traditional cardiovascular risk prediction scores is emerging as a more accurate practice to stratify patients earlier in life and to favour timely and tailored risk reduction strategies. Of note, radiogenomics aims to combine imaging features extracted for instance by coronary computed tomography angiography and molecular biomarkers to create CHD diagnostic algorithms useful to characterize atherosclerotic lesions and myocardial abnormalities. The current view is that such platforms could be of clinical value for prevention, risk stratification, and treatment of ASCVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Benincasa
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', 80138 Naples, Italy
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, Research Institute of Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB Sant Pau, Avinguda Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, Pavelló 11 (Antic Convent), 08049 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Suades
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, Research Institute of Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB Sant Pau, Avinguda Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, Pavelló 11 (Antic Convent), 08049 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cardiovascular (CIBERCV) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Padró
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, Research Institute of Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB Sant Pau, Avinguda Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, Pavelló 11 (Antic Convent), 08049 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cardiovascular (CIBERCV) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lina Badimon
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, Research Institute of Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB Sant Pau, Avinguda Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, Pavelló 11 (Antic Convent), 08049 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cardiovascular (CIBERCV) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Cardiovascular Research Chair, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudio Napoli
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', 80138 Naples, Italy
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Sopic M, Vilne B, Gerdts E, Trindade F, Uchida S, Khatib S, Wettinger SB, Devaux Y, Magni P. Multiomics tools for improved atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease management. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:983-995. [PMID: 37806854 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Multiomics studies offer accurate preventive and therapeutic strategies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) beyond traditional risk factors. By using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches, it is possible to integrate multiple 'omics and clinical data sets into tools that can be utilized for the development of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. However, currently multiple challenges in data quality, integration, and privacy still need to be addressed. In this opinion, we emphasize that joined efforts, exemplified by the AtheroNET COST Action, have a pivotal role in overcoming the challenges to advance multiomics approaches in ASCVD research, with the aim to foster more precise and effective patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miron Sopic
- Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, 1A-B rue Edison, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
| | - Baiba Vilne
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Rīga Stradiņš University, Rīga, LV-1007, Latvia
| | - Eva Gerdts
- Center for Research on Cardiac Disease in Women, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, 5020, Norway
| | - Fábio Trindade
- Cardiovascular R&D Centre - UnIC@RISE, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, 4099-002, Portugal
| | - Shizuka Uchida
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, SV, DK-2450, Denmark
| | - Soliman Khatib
- Natural Compounds and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shemona, 11016, Israel; Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee 12210, Israel
| | - Stephanie Bezzina Wettinger
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, 2080, Malta
| | - Yvan Devaux
- Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, 1A-B rue Edison, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg.
| | - Paolo Magni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy; IRCCS MultiMedica, Via Milanese 300, 20099 Sesto S. Giovanni, Milan, Italy.
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Sakkers TR, Mokry M, Civelek M, Erdmann J, Pasterkamp G, Diez Benavente E, den Ruijter HM. Sex differences in the genetic and molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 2023; 384:117279. [PMID: 37805337 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in coronary artery disease (CAD) presentation, risk factors and prognosis have been widely studied. Similarly, studies on atherosclerosis have shown prominent sex differences in plaque biology. Our understanding of the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive these differences remains fragmented and largely understudied. Through reviewing genetic and epigenetic studies, we identified more than 40 sex-differential candidate genes (13 within known CAD loci) that may explain, at least in part, sex differences in vascular remodeling, lipid metabolism and endothelial dysfunction. Studies with transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing data from atherosclerotic plaques highlight potential sex differences in smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell biology. Especially, phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells seems to play a crucial role in female atherosclerosis. This matches the known sex differences in atherosclerotic phenotypes, with men being more prone to lipid-rich plaques, while women are more likely to develop fibrous plaques with endothelial dysfunction. To unravel the complex mechanisms that drive sex differences in CAD, increased statistical power and adjustments to study designs and analysis strategies are required. This entails increasing inclusion rates of women, performing well-defined sex-stratified analyses and the integration of multi-omics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim R Sakkers
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mete Civelek
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, 1335 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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10
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Hutton M, Frazer M, Lin A, Patel S, Misra A. New Targets in Atherosclerosis: Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity and Macrophage Polarity. Clin Ther 2023; 45:1047-1054. [PMID: 37709601 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite an increase in treatment options, and substantial reductions in cardiovascular mortality over the past half-century, atherosclerosis remains the most prevalent cause of premature mortality worldwide. The development of innovative new therapies is crucial to further minimize atherosclerosis-related deaths. The diverse array of cell phenotypes derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and macrophages within atherosclerotic plaques are increasingly becoming recognized for their beneficial and detrimental roles in plaque stability and disease burden. This review explores how contemporary transcriptomics and fate-mapping studies have revealed vascular cell plasticity as a relatively unexplored target for therapeutic intervention. METHODS Recent literature for this narrative review was obtained by searching electronic databases (ie, Google Scholar, PubMed). Additional studies were sourced from reference lists and the authors' personal databases. FINDINGS The lipid-rich and inflammatory plaque milieu induces SMC phenotypic switching to both beneficial and detrimental phenotypes. Likewise, macrophage heterogeneity increases with disease burden to a variety of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activation states. These vascular cell phenotypes are determinants of plaque structure stability, and it is therefore highly likely that they influence clinical outcomes. Development of clinical treatments targeting deleterious phenotypes or promoting pro-healing phenotypes remains in its infancy. However, existing treatments (statins) have shown beneficial effects toward macrophage polarization, providing a rationale for more targeted approaches. In contrast, beneficial SMC phenotypic modulation with these pharmacologic agents has yet to be achieved. The range of modulated vascular cell phenotypes provides a multitude of novel targets and the potential to reduce future adverse events. IMPLICATIONS Vascular cell phenotypic heterogeneity must continue to be explored to lower cardiovascular events in the future. The rapidly increasing weight of evidence surrounding the role of SMC plasticity and macrophage polarity in plaque vulnerability provides a strong foundation upon which development of new therapeutics must follow. This approach may prove to be crucial in reducing cardiovascular events and improving patient benefit in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hutton
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madeleine Frazer
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexander Lin
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sanjay Patel
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashish Misra
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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11
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Diez Benavente E, Karnewar S, Buono M, Mili E, Hartman RJ, Kapteijn D, Slenders L, Daniels M, Aherrahrou R, Reinberger T, Mol BM, de Borst GJ, de Kleijn DP, Prange KH, Depuydt MA, de Winther MP, Kuiper J, Björkegren JL, Erdmann J, Civelek M, Mokry M, Owens GK, Pasterkamp G, den Ruijter HM. Female Gene Networks Are Expressed in Myofibroblast-Like Smooth Muscle Cells in Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1836-1850. [PMID: 37589136 PMCID: PMC10521798 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women presenting with coronary artery disease more often present with fibrous atherosclerotic plaques, which are currently understudied. Phenotypically modulated smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to atherosclerosis in women. How these phenotypically modulated SMCs shape female versus male plaques is unknown. METHODS Gene regulatory networks were created using RNAseq gene expression data from human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The networks were prioritized based on sex bias, relevance for smooth muscle biology, and coronary artery disease genetic enrichment. Network expression was linked to histologically determined plaque phenotypes. In addition, their expression in plaque cell types was studied at single-cell resolution using single-cell RNAseq. Finally, their relevance for disease progression was studied in female and male Apoe-/- mice fed a Western diet for 18 and 30 weeks. RESULTS Here, we identify multiple sex-stratified gene regulatory networks from human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Prioritization of the female networks identified 2 main SMC gene regulatory networks in late-stage atherosclerosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing mapped these female networks to 2 SMC phenotypes: a phenotypically modulated myofibroblast-like SMC network and a contractile SMC network. The myofibroblast-like network was mostly expressed in plaques that were vulnerable in women. Finally, the mice ortholog of key driver gene MFGE8 (milk fat globule EGF and factor V/VIII domain containing) showed retained expression in advanced plaques from female mice but was downregulated in male mice during atherosclerosis progression. CONCLUSIONS Female atherosclerosis is characterized by gene regulatory networks that are active in fibrous vulnerable plaques rich in myofibroblast-like SMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Santosh Karnewar
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (S.K., G.K.O.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Michele Buono
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Eloi Mili
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Robin J.G. Hartman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Daniek Kapteijn
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Slenders
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (L.S., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Daniels
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Redouane Aherrahrou
- Center for Public Health Genomics (R.A., M.C.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany (R.A., T.R., J.E.)
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland (R.A.)
| | - Tobias Reinberger
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany (R.A., T.R., J.E.)
| | - Barend M. Mol
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gert J. de Borst
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Dominique P.V. de Kleijn
- Department of Vascular Surgery (B.M.M., G.J.d.B., D.P.V.d.K.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Koen H.M. Prange
- Experimental Vascular Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers — location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (K.H.M.P., M.P.J.d.W.)
| | - Marie A.C. Depuydt
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands (M.A.C.D., J.K.)
| | - Menno P.J. de Winther
- Experimental Vascular Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers — location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (K.H.M.P., M.P.J.d.W.)
| | - Johan Kuiper
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands (M.A.C.D., J.K.)
| | - Johan L.M. Björkegren
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (J.L.M.B.)
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge, Sweden (J.L.M.B.)
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany (R.A., T.R., J.E.)
| | - Mete Civelek
- Center for Public Health Genomics (R.A., M.C.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (M.C.)
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville (M.C.)
| | - Michal Mokry
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (L.S., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gary K. Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (S.K., G.K.O.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (L.S., M.M., G.P.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Hester M. den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology (E.D.B., M.B., E.M., R.J.G.H., D.K., M.D., H.M.d.R.), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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12
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Theofilatos K, Stojkovic S, Hasman M, van der Laan SW, Baig F, Barallobre-Barreiro J, Schmidt LE, Yin S, Yin X, Burnap S, Singh B, Popham J, Harkot O, Kampf S, Nackenhorst MC, Strassl A, Loewe C, Demyanets S, Neumayer C, Bilban M, Hengstenberg C, Huber K, Pasterkamp G, Wojta J, Mayr M. Proteomic Atlas of Atherosclerosis: The Contribution of Proteoglycans to Sex Differences, Plaque Phenotypes, and Outcomes. Circ Res 2023; 133:542-558. [PMID: 37646165 PMCID: PMC10498884 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.322590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using proteomics, we aimed to reveal molecular types of human atherosclerotic lesions and study their associations with histology, imaging, and cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS Two hundred nineteen carotid endarterectomy samples were procured from 120 patients. A sequential protein extraction protocol was employed in conjunction with multiplexed, discovery proteomics. To focus on extracellular proteins, parallel reaction monitoring was employed for targeted proteomics. Proteomic signatures were integrated with bulk, single-cell, and spatial RNA-sequencing data, and validated in 200 patients from the Athero-Express Biobank study. RESULTS This extensive proteomics analysis identified plaque inflammation and calcification signatures, which were inversely correlated and validated using targeted proteomics. The inflammation signature was characterized by the presence of neutrophil-derived proteins, such as S100A8/9 (calprotectin) and myeloperoxidase, whereas the calcification signature included fetuin-A, osteopontin, and gamma-carboxylated proteins. The proteomics data also revealed sex differences in atherosclerosis, with large-aggregating proteoglycans versican and aggrecan being more abundant in females and exhibiting an inverse correlation with estradiol levels. The integration of RNA-sequencing data attributed the inflammation signature predominantly to neutrophils and macrophages, and the calcification and sex signatures to smooth muscle cells, except for certain plasma proteins that were not expressed but retained in plaques, such as fetuin-A. Dimensionality reduction and machine learning techniques were applied to identify 4 distinct plaque phenotypes based on proteomics data. A protein signature of 4 key proteins (calponin, protein C, serpin H1, and versican) predicted future cardiovascular mortality with an area under the curve of 75% and 67.5% in the discovery and validation cohort, respectively, surpassing the prognostic performance of imaging and histology. CONCLUSIONS Plaque proteomics redefined clinically relevant patient groups with distinct outcomes, identifying subgroups of male and female patients with elevated risk of future cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Theofilatos
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Stefan Stojkovic
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II (S.S., O.H., C.H., J.W., M.M.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Hasman
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Sander W. van der Laan
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands (S.W.v.d.L., G.P.)
| | - Ferheen Baig
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Javier Barallobre-Barreiro
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Lukas Emanuel Schmidt
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Siqi Yin
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Xiaoke Yin
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Sean Burnap
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Bhawana Singh
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Jude Popham
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
| | - Olesya Harkot
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II (S.S., O.H., C.H., J.W., M.M.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephanie Kampf
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (S.K., C.N.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Strassl
- Division of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy (A.S., C.L.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Loewe
- Division of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy (A.S., C.L.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Svitlana Demyanets
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (S.D.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Neumayer
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (S.K., C.N.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Bilban
- Core Facilities (M.B.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Hengstenberg
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II (S.S., O.H., C.H., J.W., M.M.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Kurt Huber
- Third Medical Department, Wilhelminenspital, and Sigmund Freud University, Medical Faculty, Vienna, Austria (K.H.)
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands (S.W.v.d.L., G.P.)
| | - Johann Wojta
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II (S.S., O.H., C.H., J.W., M.M.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria (J.W.)
| | - Manuel Mayr
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, Kings College London, United Kingdom (K.T., M.H., F.B., J.B.B., L.E.S., S.Y., X.Y., S.B., B.S., J.P., M.M.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II (S.S., O.H., C.H., J.W., M.M.), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
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13
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Petkovic A, Erceg S, Munjas J, Ninic A, Vladimirov S, Davidovic A, Vukmirovic L, Milanov M, Cvijanovic D, Mitic T, Sopic M. LncRNAs as Regulators of Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability. Cells 2023; 12:1832. [PMID: 37508497 PMCID: PMC10378138 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Current clinical data show that, despite constant efforts to develop novel therapies and clinical approaches, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Advanced and unstable atherosclerotic plaques most often trigger acute coronary events that can lead to fatal outcomes. However, despite the fact that different plaque phenotypes may require different treatments, current approaches to prognosis, diagnosis, and classification of acute coronary syndrome do not consider the diversity of plaque phenotypes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent an important class of molecules that are implicated in epigenetic control of numerous cellular processes. Here we review the latest knowledge about lncRNAs' influence on plaque development and stability through regulation of immune response, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodelling, endothelial cell function, and vascular smooth muscle function, with special emphasis on pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lncRNA functions. In addition, we present current challenges in the research of lncRNAs' role in atherosclerosis and translation of the findings from animal models to humans. Finally, we present the directions for future lncRNA-oriented research, which may ultimately result in patient-oriented therapeutic strategies for ASCVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksa Petkovic
- Clinical-Hospital Centre "Dr Dragiša Mišović-Dedinje", 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Erceg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Munjas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Ninic
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Vladimirov
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Davidovic
- Intern Clinic, Clinical Ward for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical-Hospital Centre Zvezdara, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Luka Vukmirovic
- Intern Clinic, Clinical Ward for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical-Hospital Centre Zvezdara, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Milanov
- Intern Clinic, Clinical Ward for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical-Hospital Centre Zvezdara, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dane Cvijanovic
- Intern Clinic, Clinical Ward for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical-Hospital Centre Zvezdara, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tijana Mitic
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Miron Sopic
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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14
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Buono MF, Benavente ED, Daniels M, Mol BM, Mekke JM, de Borst GJ, de Kleijn DPV, van der Laan SW, Pasterkamp G, Onland-Moret C, Mokry M, den Ruijter HM. X chromosome inactivation skewing is common in advanced carotid atherosclerotic lesions in females and predicts secondary peripheral artery events. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:43. [PMID: 37408072 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00527-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Sex differences in atherosclerosis have been described with female plaques being mostly perceived as stable and fibrous. Sex-specific mechanisms such as mosaic loss of the Y chromosome in men have been linked to cardiovascular health. In women, X-linked mechanisms such as X chromosome inactivation (XCI) skewing is common in several tissues. Yet, information on the role of XCI in female atherosclerotic plaques is lacking. Here, we investigated the presence of XCI skewing in advanced atherosclerotic lesions and its association with cardiovascular risk factors, histological plaque data, and clinical data. METHODS XCI skewing was quantified in 154 atherosclerotic plaque and 55 blood DNA samples of women included in the Athero-Express study. The skewing status was determined performing the HUMARA assay. Then, we studied the relationship of XCI skewing in female plaque and cardiovascular risk factors using regression models. In addition, we studied if plaque XCI predicted plaque composition, and adverse events during 3-years follow-up using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS XCI skewing was detected in 76 of 154 (49.4%) plaques and in 27 of 55 (67%) blood samples. None of the clinical risk factors were associated with plaque skewing. Plaque skewing was more often detected in plaques with a plaque hemorrhage (OR [95% CI]: 1.44 [1.06-1.98], P = 0.02). Moreover, skewed plaques were not associated with a higher incidence of composite and major events but were specifically associated with peripheral artery events during a 3-year follow-up period in a multivariate model (HR [95%CI]: 1.46 [1.09-1.97]; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS XCI skewing is common in carotid plaques of females and is predictive for the occurrence of peripheral artery events within 3 years after carotid endarterectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele F Buono
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Daniels
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Barend M Mol
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joost M Mekke
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gert J de Borst
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dominique P V de Kleijn
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sander W van der Laan
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Onland-Moret
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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