Immune-Related Genes in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis: Based on Sex Differences.

J Inflamm Res

Department of Cardiology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, 312000, People's Republic of China.

Published: October 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • Atherosclerosis, a major global health issue, shows significant differences in progression between genders, especially at the genetic and immune cell levels.
  • The study identified seven immune-related genes (IRGs) that are overexpressed in males with atherosclerosis, with a strong association to inflammatory pathways.
  • Findings indicate that males exhibit greater immune cell infiltration compared to females, suggesting important sex-based biological differences in atherosclerosis.

Article Abstract

Purpose: Atherosclerosis is still a global public problem with increasing incidence rate and mortality. It has been found that gender factors play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. However, few people explore gender related atherosclerosis at the level of genes and immune cells. The purpose of this study was to determine genetic and immune cell differences between male and female samples.

Patients And Methods: This study aims to identify differential genes between male and female samples in the GSE43292 dataset. The focus will be on identifying immune-related genes (IRGs) among these differentially expressed genes. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis will be employed to explore the enrichment of IRGs in biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components, and pathways. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for the IRGs will be constructed using Cytoscape software. To estimate the degree of immune cell infiltration, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) will be conducted. Moreover, the identified IRGs will be validated using GSE28829 dataset. Finally, we validated in atherosclerotic mice.

Results: Seven IRGs (CCL13, IL1RN, FPR2, S100A8, CCL19, CXCL1, CXCL8) were identified as being overexpressed in male atherosclerosis. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that these IRGs are primarily enriched in inflammatory response pathways, cytokine signaling pathways, and cytokine- cytokine receptor interactions. Notably, when compared to females, there was a significant infiltration of immune cells in male specimens. Importantly, all seven IRGs demonstrated high diagnostic value in GSE28829 dataset. The use of animal samples supports our results.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of seven IRGs and reveal sex differences in atherosclerosis. Notably, there is a significant presence of immune cells within the atherosclerotic plaque of men compared to women. These findings have potential implications for the development of personalized treatment approaches targeting gender-related atherosclerosis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590557PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S429247DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

immune cells
12
immune-related genes
8
sex differences
8
immune cell
8
male female
8
irgs
8
kegg analysis
8
irgs will
8
gse28829 dataset
8
atherosclerosis
7

Similar Publications

Background: Genetic studies indicate a causal role for microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the progress made in identifying genetic risk factors, such as CD33, and underlying molecular changes, there are currently limited treatment options for AD. Based on the immune-inhibitory function of CD33, we hypothesize that inhibition of CD33 activation may reverse microglial suppression and restore their ability to resolve inflammatory processes and mitigate pathogenic amyloid plaques, which may be neuroprotective.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The impact of probiotics as gut and immunological modulator in restoring gut microbial balance and immune cells expression have generated much attention in the health sector. Its inhibitory effect on bacterial translocation and associated neural inflammatory processes has been reported. However, there is scarcity of data on its neuroprotective impact against neuroinflammation-associated neurodegeneration and memory impairment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Lyn kinase, a member of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, predominantly phosphorylates ITIM and ITAM motifs linked to immune receptors and adaptor proteins, and is emerging as a target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The role of Lyn in TREM2-mediated microglial activation and phagocytosis, a critical pathway for clearing Aβ plaques, remains unclear and potent, selective, and brain penetrant Lyn inhibitors are unavailable. In this study, we report the characterization of Lyn kinase inhibitors from the literature as well as the establishment of an advanced virtual screening platform at the IUSM-Purdue-TREAT-AD center to identify new type II Lyn inhibitors suitable as molecular probes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Drug Development.

Alzheimers Dement

December 2024

The TT & WF Chao Center for BRAIN and Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Global epidemiological studies involving over nine million participants have shown a 35% lower incidence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in older cancer survivors compared to those without a history of cancer. This inverse relationship, consistent across recent studies with methodological controls, suggests that cancer itself, rather than cancer treatments, may offer protective factors against AD. This insight opens avenues for novel therapeutic strategies targeting early AD by harnessing cancer-associated protective factors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (α-syn), is involved in the pathophysiology of AD and elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The role of Natural Killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system in AD has largely been overlooked. In a murine model, depletion of NK cells augmented the accumulation of pathological α-syn.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!