Integrative single cell RNA-sequencing descrambles a substantial divergence of adaptive immune cell identities and transcriptional programs in mouse and human atherosclerosis

Aims

The distinct function of immune cells in human atherosclerosis has been mostly defined by preclinical mouse studies. Contrastingly, the immune cell composition of human atherosclerotic plaques and their contribution to disease progression is only poorly understood. It remains uncertain whether genetic animal models allow for valuable translational approaches.

Methods and results

We performed single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) to define the immune cell landscape in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The human immune cell repertoire was dominated by T cells with a considerable inter-patient variability and an unexpected heterogeneity. We performed bioinformatical integration with 7 mouse data sets and discovered a total of 38 cellular identities, of which some were not conserved between species and exclusively found in mice or humans. Locations, frequencies, and transcriptional programs of immune cells in preclinical mouse models did not resemble the immune cell landscape in human atherosclerosis. In contrast to mice, human plaques were not myeloid- and B cell-dominated and instead contained several T cell phenotypes with hallmarks of T cell memory, dysregulation, exhaustion, and activation. Human immune cells were predominantly enriched for transcriptional programs of hypoxia, glucose, and autoimmunity. In a validation cohort of 43 patients activated immune cell subsets defined by multi-colour flow cytometry associated with cerebral ischemia and coronary artery disease.

Conclusion

Here, we uncover yet undefined immune cell types associating with clinical disease. This leukocyte atlas of human atherosclerosis builds the conceptual basis for subsequent identification of cellular targets for clinical immunomodulatory therapies and risk prediction.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): ERC Starting Grant

[The diagnostic value of copeptin in the cardiorenal syndrome rats and the association with heart and kidney impairment]

To explore the diagnostic value of copeptin (CPP) in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in rats and the association between CPP and impairment of heart and kidney, 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group (CK group), kidney failure group (SNX group), heart failure group (MI group), and CRS group. Heart and kidney function and their histology changes in rats from each group were detected. The correlation between serum CPP and heart and kidney function indexes was performed with Pearson correlation analysis. The HE staining of heart and kidney showed that the tissue lesion was more severe in CRS group than in SNX group and MI group. There was a significant positive correlation between serum CPP and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (r=0.638, P<0.05). No correlation was observed between serum CPP and cardiac function index (left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular diastolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure) or renal function index (serum creatinine, urine creatinine, blood urea nitrogen) (r=0.512, 0.189,-0.063, 0.207, 0.290, 0.595, respectively, all P>0.05). The CPP level is associated with the degree of heart and kidney damage in CRS rats.