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Data Mining of IFNgamma-induced macrophage and Atherosclerotic Plaque Transcriptomes predicts a macrophage-specific role of STAT1 in human atherosclerosis [VSMC]

ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the blood vessels, characterized by atherosclerotic lesions. Early vascular injury initiates excessive inflammatory and immune responses, communicated by blood leukocytes and cells from the vasculature. Key factors contributing to early stages of atherosclerosis and plaque development include the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ, which is vital for both innate and adaptive immunity and is also expressed at high levels in atherosclerotic lesions. Recent discoveries provide novel evidence to suggest that IFNγ-activated STAT1 orchestrates a platform of cell-type common and specific inflammatory responses in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC) and macrophages (MΦ) that are instrumental in the onset and progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Therefore, we compared genome-wide transcriptional responses of mouse VSMCs and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in time-dependent IFNγ response using RNA-seq. We identified genes upregulated both in a common and cell-type-specific manner. Next, comparative analysis with RNAseq data from aortic plaques from HFD-treated ApoEKO mice identified 225 differentially expressed genes with a BMDM-specific character. These included many known IFNγ target genes containing putative GAS and ISRE sites in their promoters. Likewise, using a scRNAseq data set obtained from human coronary atherosclerotic plaques, identified 98 pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic genes that were characterized as BMDM-specific and exclusively expressed in foamy, inflammatory, monocytes and tissue-resident BMDM subtypes. Finally, we identified a 25 BMDM-specific gene subset commonly expressed in mouse and human plaques, over-representing STAT1-binding sites and predominantly associated with Leukocyte Chemotaxis and Migration. These results provide strong evidence for a BMDM-specific role of STAT1 in coronary artery plaque development and identify a BMDM-specific STAT1-dependent pro-inflammatory gene signature that could serve to monitor and diagnose plaque progression in human atherosclerosis.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE276417 | GEO | 2024/09/09

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the blood vessels, characterized by atherosclerotic lesions. Early vascular injury initiates excessive inflammatory and immune responses, communicated by blood leukocytes and cells from the vasculature. Key factors contributing to early stages of atherosclerosis and plaque development include the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ, which is vital for both innate and adaptive immunity and is also expressed at high levels in atherosclerotic lesions. Recent discoveries provide novel evidence to suggest that IFNγ-activated STAT1 orchestrates a platform of cell-type common and specific inflammatory responses in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC) and macrophages (MΦ) that are instrumental in the onset and progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Therefore, we compared genome-wide transcriptional responses of mouse VSMCs and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in time-dependent IFNγ response using RNA-seq. We identified genes upregulated both in a common and cell-type-specific manner. Next, comparative analysis with RNAseq data from aortic plaques from HFD-treated ApoEKO mice identified 225 differentially expressed genes with a BMDM-specific character. These included many known IFNγ target genes containing putative GAS and ISRE sites in their promoters. Likewise, using a scRNAseq data set obtained from human coronary atherosclerotic plaques, identified 98 pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic genes that were characterized as BMDM-specific and exclusively expressed in foamy, inflammatory, monocytes and tissue-resident BMDM subtypes. Finally, we identified a 25 BMDM-specific gene subset commonly expressed in mouse and human plaques, over-representing STAT1-binding sites and predominantly associated with Leukocyte Chemotaxis and Migration. These results provide strong evidence for a BMDM-specific role of STAT1 in coronary artery plaque development and identify a BMDM-specific STAT1-dependent pro-inflammatory gene signature that could serve to monitor and diagnose plaque progression in human atherosclerosis.

Project description:Regression of atherosclerosis is an important clinical goal, however the pathways that mediate the resolution of atherosclerotic inflammation and reversal of plaques are poorly understood. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to be atheroprotective, however numbers of these immunosuppressive cells decrease with disease progression. Using multiple independent mouse models of atherosclerosis regression, we demonstrate that an increase in plaque Tregs is a common signature of regressing plaques. To test if Tregs are required for the resolution of atherosclerotic inflammation and plaque regression during lipid-lowering therapy, we combined CD25 monoclonal antibody (PC61 mAb)-mediated Treg depletion with single-cell RNA-sequencing of immune cells in the plaque and conventional analyses of atherosclerosis. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed that Tregs from aortic plaques shared some similarity with splenic Tregs, but were distinct from skin and colon Tregs supporting recent findings of tissue-dependent Treg heterogeneity. Furthermore, Tregs from progressing plaques expressed markers of natural Tregs derived from the thymus, whereas Tregs in regressing plaques lacked Nrp1 and Helios expression, suggesting that they are induced in the periphery during lipid lowering. Treatment of atherosclerotic mice with PC61 mAb effectively depleted Tregs in the blood and peripheral tissues, including plaques, and blocked the regression of atherosclerosis induced by apoB anti-sense oligonucleotides. Morphometric analyses revealed that control antibody-treated mice showed a 40% decrease in plaque burden and macrophage content under regression conditions, whereas PC61 mAb-treated mice showed no change in plaque size or inflammatory cell content compared to baseline. Moreover, Treg depletion enhanced inflammatory signaling and blocked tissue reparative functions of macrophages in the regressing plaque, including M2-polarization, efferocytosis and sensing of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators. Together, these data establish essential roles for Tregs in the resolution of atherosclerotic inflammation and plaque remodeling during regression.

Dataset Information

Data Mining of IFNgamma-induced macrophage and Atherosclerotic Plaque Transcriptomes predicts a macrophage-specific role of STAT1 in human atherosclerosis [VSMC]

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