Comprehensive analysis of T-cell receptor repertoire in patients with acute coronary syndrome by high-throughput sequencing

Reduced Diversities and Clonally Expanded Sequences of T-Cell Receptors in Patients With Essential Hypertension and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

It has long been hypothesized that the abnormal immune responses contribute to the essential hypertension (EH) and its subclinical target organ damage (STOD). However, the mechanism is unclear. This study aimed at exploring the potential association with abnormal T-cell responses and EH, STOD, and early atherosclerosis in patients with EH.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 146 patients with EH and 73 age-matched normotensive individuals. The expressed peripheral TCR (T-cell receptor) β repertoire was analyzed by high through-put sequencing.

RESULTS

The TCRβ repertoires of the patients with EH were significantly different, with significantly elevated certain TCR beta variable (TRBV) and joint (TRBJ) gene usages, significantly reduced TCRβ diversity indexes (diversity 50s) and numbers of total TCRβ clonal types, significantly elevated percentages of the biggest TCRβ clones and numbers of clones accounting >0.1% sequences, compared with those in the normotensive controls. Decreased diversity 50s and increased biggest TCRβ clone percentages were independently correlated with carotid intima-media thickness and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA) in the patients with EH. Moreover, the diversity 50s were further significantly reduced and the biggest TCRβ clone percentages were significantly increased in the patients with EH with SCA (n=89) comparing to the patients with EH/patients without SCA (n=57), and in patients with EH/SCA with carotid plaque (n=22) comparing to patients with EH/SCA/patients without carotid plaque (n=67). Importantly, specific TCRβ clones were identified in different subgroups of the patients with EH.

CONCLUSIONS

These results reveal that abnormal T-cell responses may play important roles in the progression of EH and its SCA, especially the formation of carotid plaque.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR2100054414.

T Cells in Atherosclerosis: Key Players in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Disease

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of lipid-rich plaques within arterial walls. T cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in which they help orchestrate immune responses and contribute to plaque development and instability. Here, we discuss the recognition of atherosclerosis-related antigens that may trigger T cell activation together with additional signaling from co-stimulatory molecules and lesional cytokines. Although few studies have indicated candidates for the antigen specificity of T cells in atherosclerosis, further research is needed. Furthermore, we describe the pro-atherogenic and atheroprotective roles of diverse subsets of T cells such as CD4+ helper, CD8+ cytotoxic, invariant natural killer, and γδ T cells. To classify and quantify T cell subsets in atherosclerosis, we summarize current methods to analyze cellular heterogeneity including single cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. Further insights into T cell biology will help shed light on the immunopathology of atherosclerosis, inform potential therapeutic interventions, and pave the way for precision medicine approaches in combating cardiovascular disease.

Characterization of the B cell receptor repertoire of patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a complex cardiovascular disease whose development involves the dysregulation of adaptive immune responses. Though it has been proven that T cells associate with inflammation in the development of ACS, the function of B cells in disease remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to reveal the diversity of the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire of patients with ACS.

METHODS

We conducted a pilot study to sequence the immune repertoire of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with ACS, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA), and quantitatively characterized BCR repertoires by bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS

We found that patients with AMI and UA had lower BCR repertoire diversity compared with controls with normal coronary arteries (NCA). Lower percentages of productive unique BCR nt sequences and higher percentages of top 200 unique BCR sequences were identified in AMI and UA patients than NCA controls. Patients had various preferential usage of V and J genes from B cell clones in accordance with the disease severity of coronary arteries. AMI patients had distinct CDR3 amino acids, and their frequency differed among patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that differential BCR signatures represent an imprint of distinct repertoires among ACS patients. This study thereby opens up the prospect of studying disease-relevant B cells to better understand and treat ACS.