Project description:To identify the dynamic changes of cytokines in the ApoE-/- mice atherosclerotic plaque, heart, and serum upon β-adrenergic stimulation (isoproterenol, 5 mg/kg body weight) at 0.5hrs, 1hrs, 3hrs and 24hrs using mouse cytokine antibody arrays.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of aortic sinus atherosclerotic plaque macrophages obtained by laser capture microdissection from male ApoE deficient mice infected with 5x10(5) cfu serotype 4 Streptococcus pneumoniae via intranasal instillation (n=9) as compared with mice mock infected with PBS (n=11). Mice were culled 2 weeks post infection/mock infection.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE23303: Gene expression profiling of human atherosclerotic plaque: Laser capture microscopy of smooth muscle cells and macrophages GSE23304: Gene expression profiling of human atherosclerotic plaque: 101 peripheral plaques GSE24495: Gene expression profiling of human atherosclerotic plaque: Carotid plaque GSE24702: Gene expression profiling of human atherosclerotic plaque: 290 peripheral plaques Refer to individual Series
Project description:The rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaques, leading to debilitating or fatal thrombotic events, is a major health burden worldwide. Limited understanding as to the molecular drivers of plaque instability and rupture hinders efforts in diagnosis and treatment prior to thrombotic events. Utilising an advanced pre-clinical mouse model (Tandem stenosis (TS) model), which presents human-like unstable atherosclerotic disease, we apply high-end omic methods to characterize the molecular signatures associated with plaque instability in atherosclerotic arteries. Through quantitative proteomic profiling, we depict unique proteome signatures of unstable plaques compared to stable plaques and healthy arteries. Coupled with single-cell RNA-sequencing of leukocytes, we describe the heterodimer complex S100a8/S100a9 as unique to unstable plaque, with neutrophils implicated as the transcriptional drivers of S100a8/a9 expression. We confirm S100a9 expression in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and we further utilise the TS pre-clinical model to pharmacologically inhibit S100a8/S100a9, resulting in plaque stabilisation. Thus, we establish the TS model as a sophisticated translational tool for the profiling of unstable atherosclerotic plaques and demonstrate that unstable and stable atherosclerosis are highly different disease entities.
Project description:We have applied 10X single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technique to examine the cell type specific transcriptomes of heterogeneous cell populations in atherosclerotic aortas isolated from Oasl1+/+Apoe-/- and Oasl1-/-Apoe-/- mice.
Project description:Aberrantly expressed miRNAs contribute to developmental abnormalities and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders, by hybridizing to specific mRNA targets and repressing their translation into proteins. Although miRNA expression signature is characterized in the process of neointimal thickening during proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, so far global miRNA expression profiling in the different stages of atherosclerosis is completely unknown. We explored stage-specific microRNA signatures in the progress of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemia mouse model, which may help to identify the critical miRNAs contributing atherosclerotic development and stabilization. Female apoe-/- mice (6-8 weeks, Jackson Laboratory) were fed a high fat diet (HFD, 21% crude fat, 0.15% cholesterol and 19.5% casein, Altromin, Germany) for 3 or 10 months (N=3-4). Serial sections (20 µm thick) of aortic roots and carotid arteries from these mice were mounted on membrane mounted metal frame slides (MMI), deparaffinized under RNase-free conditions, and completely dried. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was performed with a laser microdissection system (MMI cellcut plus, Molecular Machines and Industries, Switzerland) assembled onto an inverted microscope (Olympus IX71). Plaque tissue or morphologically normal vessel wall of at least 40 sections per mouse were collected. RNA was isolated using RecoverAll total nucleic acid isolation kit (Applied Biosystems) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Project description:In order to identify potential new biomarkers of atherosclerotic plaque composition we performed a large scale analysis of gene expression patterns in human atherosclerotic lesions. Whole genome expression analysis of 101 peripheral plaques identified a robust gene signature (1514 genes) dominated by inflammatory processes, and cholesterol metabolism and storage genes. Specific pathways enriched in this signature included activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, T-cell activation, cholesterol efflux, oxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine production, vasoconstriction and lysosomal activity. Analysis of gene expression in plaque micro-dissected material revealed that the signature is strongly up-regulated in macrophage-rich regions and down-regulated in regions with high smooth muscle cell content. A smaller qPCR biomarker panel and inflammatory composite score (ICS) were developed to facilitate clinical translation of discoveries from gene expression profiling. We found that ICS correlates with histological features related to plaque vulnerability. In addition, ICS is able to separate groups of plaques obtained from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarerectomy. In summary, we identified a robust mRNA biomarker panel associated with histo-pathological as well as clinical hallmarks of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. This panel may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical setting to evaluate novel anti-atherosclerotic therapies. 6 human carotid plaques were sectioned in 1 mm thick slices. Alternative slices were used for gene expression profiling in Affymetrix/Merck custom 1.0 arrays (GPL10687), or for immunohistochemistry studies (CD68, Actin)
Project description:Atherosclerosis leads to vascular lesions that involve major rearrangements of the vascular proteome, especially of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Using single aortas from ApoE knock out mice, we quantified formation of plaques by single-run, high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics. To probe localization on a proteome-wide scale, we employed quantitative detergent solubility profiling. This compartment- and time-resolved resource of atherogenesis comprised 5,117 proteins, 182 of which changed their expression status in response to vessel maturation and atherosclerotic plaque development. In the insoluble ECM proteome, 65 proteins significantly changed, including relevant collagens, matrix metalloproteinases and macrophage specific proteins.
Project description:In order to identify potential new biomarkers of atherosclerotic plaque composition we performed a large scale analysis of gene expression patterns in human atherosclerotic lesions. Whole genome expression analysis of 101 peripheral plaques identified a robust gene signature (1514 genes) dominated by inflammatory processes, and cholesterol metabolism and storage genes. Specific pathways enriched in this signature included activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, T-cell activation, cholesterol efflux, oxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine production, vasoconstriction and lysosomal activity. Analysis of gene expression in plaque micro-dissected material revealed that the signature is strongly up-regulated in macrophage-rich regions and down-regulated in regions with high smooth muscle cell content. A smaller qPCR biomarker panel and inflammatory composite score (ICS) were developed to facilitate clinical translation of discoveries from gene expression profiling. We found that ICS correlates with histological features related to plaque vulnerability. In addition, ICS is able to separate groups of plaques obtained from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarerectomy. In summary, we identified a robust mRNA biomarker panel associated with histo-pathological as well as clinical hallmarks of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. This panel may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical setting to evaluate novel anti-atherosclerotic therapies.
Project description:In order to identify potential new biomarkers of atherosclerotic plaque composition we performed a large scale analysis of gene expression patterns in human atherosclerotic lesions. Whole genome expression analysis of 101 peripheral plaques identified a robust gene signature (1514 genes) dominated by inflammatory processes, and cholesterol metabolism and storage genes. Specific pathways enriched in this signature included activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, T-cell activation, cholesterol efflux, oxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine production, vasoconstriction and lysosomal activity. Analysis of gene expression in plaque micro-dissected material revealed that the signature is strongly up-regulated in macrophage-rich regions and down-regulated in regions with high smooth muscle cell content. A smaller qPCR biomarker panel and inflammatory composite score (ICS) were developed to facilitate clinical translation of discoveries from gene expression profiling. We found that ICS correlates with histological features related to plaque vulnerability. In addition, ICS is able to separate groups of plaques obtained from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarerectomy. In summary, we identified a robust mRNA biomarker panel associated with histo-pathological as well as clinical hallmarks of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. This panel may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical setting to evaluate novel anti-atherosclerotic therapies. Total RNA from peripheral plaque (n=101) profiled in the Merck/Agilent 44k v1.1 against a reference pool of total RNA from 7 carotid plaques.