Collections / A Proteomic Atlas of Atherosclerosis: The Contribution of Proteoglycans to Sex Differences, Plaque Phenotypes and Outcomes

A Proteomic Atlas of Atherosclerosis: The Contribution of Proteoglycans to Sex Differences, Plaque Phenotypes and Outcomes

Background. Using proteomics, we aimed to reveal molecular types of humanatherosclerotic lesions and study their associations with histology, imaging andcardiovascular outcomes. Methods. 219 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 and myeloperoxidase, while 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 four 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 55 patient groups with distinct outcomes, identifying subgroups of male and female patients with elevated risk of future cardiovascular events.

Datasets2
Size~12.3 MB
AssayVisium
Samplehuman · carotid artery segment
KindOther
Flag a data issue
PMID:37646165 ↗
Python · sddb client
from sddb import Catalog

cohort = Catalog().collection("geo-gse241346")
cohort.members        # the 2 datasets as a table

print(cohort.licenses())              # check the terms before you download

sdatas = cohort.to_dict()             # {uid: SpatialData}, cached locally
# or keep the .zarr files in a folder of your choice:
# sdatas = cohort.to_dict(dest="data/")
Python · lamindb

Needs pip install lamindb and network access to the Lamin database, which is limited during the alpha. If it fails, use the Client tab.

import lamindb as ln

db = ln.DB("scverse/spatialdata-db")
coll = db.Collection.get(key="geo-gse241346")
coll.ordered_artifacts.to_dataframe()   # the 2 members, ordered

# download every member .zarr to the local cache:
paths = [a.cache() for a in coll.ordered_artifacts.all()]
Shell
# sddb client: download every member .zarr into data/
sddb-cli download --collection geo-gse241346 --dest data/

Licenses: 2 NCBI GEO policy

Open in Vitessce
Visium
Human carotid artery segment
GSM7727540
human carotid artery segment atherosclerosis 6.2 MB 1,165 spots bronze H&E NCBI GEO policy
TechnologyVisium
Organismhuman
Tissuecarotid artery segment
Conditionatherosclerosis
Size6.2 MB
Spots1,165
bronze H&E NCBI GEO policy Open in Vitessce
Open in Vitessce
Visium
Human carotid artery segment
GSM7727539
human carotid artery segment atherosclerosis 6.1 MB 4,992 spots bronze H&E NCBI GEO policy
TechnologyVisium
Organismhuman
Tissuecarotid artery segment
Conditionatherosclerosis
Size6.1 MB
Spots4,992
bronze H&E NCBI GEO policy Open in Vitessce

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