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Single-Cell Gene-Regulatory Networks of Advanced Symptomatic Atherosclerosis
Mocci G, Sukhavasi K, Örd T, Bankier S, Singha P, Arasu UT, Agbabiaje OO, Mäkinen P et al.. Circulation research, 2024-04-19
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background While our understanding of the single-cell gene expression patterns underlying the transformation of vascular cell types during the progression of atherosclerosis is rapidly improving, the clinical and pathophysiological relevance of these changes remains poorly understood. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing data generated with SmartSeq2 (≈8000 genes/cell) in 16 588 single cells isolated during atherosclerosis progression in Ldlr -/- Apob 100/100 mice with human-like plasma lipoproteins and from humans with asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid plaques was clustered into multiple subtypes. For clinical and pathophysiological context, the advanced-stage and symptomatic subtype clusters were integrated with 135 tissue-specific (atherosclerotic aortic wall, mammary artery, liver, skeletal muscle, and visceral and subcutaneous, fat) gene-regulatory networks (GRNs) inferred from 600
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APA 7th
Mocci, G., Sukhavasi, K., Örd, T., Bankier, S., Singha, P., Arasu, U. T., et al. (2024). Single-Cell Gene-Regulatory Networks of Advanced Symptomatic Atherosclerosis. Circulation research. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.123.323184
Vancouver
Mocci G, Sukhavasi K, Örd T, Bankier S, Singha P, Arasu UT, et al. Single-Cell Gene-Regulatory Networks of Advanced Symptomatic Atherosclerosis. Circulation research. 2024. doi:10.1161/circresaha.123.323184. PMID: 38639096.
BibTeX
@article{mocci2024-38639096,
author = {Mocci, G. and Sukhavasi, K. and Örd, T. and Bankier, S. and Singha, P. and Arasu, U. T. and Agbabiaje, O. O. and Mäkinen, P. and others},
title = {{Single-Cell Gene-Regulatory Networks of Advanced Symptomatic Atherosclerosis}},
journal = {Circulation research},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1161/circresaha.123.323184},
pmid = {38639096},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.123.323184}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing data generated with SmartSeq2 (≈8000 genes/cell) in 16 588 single cells isolated during atherosclerosis progression in Ldlr -/- Apob 100/100 mice with human-like plasma lipoproteins and from humans with asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid plaques was clustered into multiple subtypes.
- For clinical and pathophysiological context, the advanced-stage and symptomatic subtype clusters were integrated with 135 tissue-specific (atherosclerotic aortic wall, mammary artery, liver, skeletal muscle, and visceral and subcutaneous, fat) gene-regulatory networks (GRNs) inferred from 600 coronary artery disease patients in the STARNET (Stockholm-Tartu Atherosclerosis Reverse Network Engineering Task) study.
- Results Advanced stages of atherosclerosis progression and symptomatic carotid plaques were largely characterized by 3 smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and 3 macrophage subtype clusters with extracellular matrix organization/osteogenic (SMC), and M1-type proinflammatory/Trem2-high lipid-associated (macrophage) phenotypes.
- Integrative analysis of these 6 clusters with STARNET revealed significant enrichments of 3 arterial wall GRNs: GRN33 (macrophage), GRN39 (SMC), and GRN122 (macrophage) with major contributions to coronary artery disease heritability and strong associations with clinical scores of coronary atherosclerosis severity.
Why it matters
This study is about atherosclerosis, not Alzheimer's disease, and used single-cell RNA sequencing to map gene-regulatory networks in mice and human plaques. It reports no Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Circulation research) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Circulation Research: journal h-index 507 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 73 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.2 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 73 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Johan Björkegren: h-index 66 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Stanford University: institution h-index 2,684 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 19 institution(s) in 8 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38639096) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323184
- PubMed: 38639096
- Original source →
- Free full text: Circulation Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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