Molecular signatures of atherosclerotic plaques: An up-dated panel of protein related markers

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Proteomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of ischemic events like myocardial infarction and stroke.
• Plaque rupture and arterial blockage are primary drivers of these events.
• Identifying high-risk plaques is essential for timely patient intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenge of identifying vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
• To propose a multi-protein signature for assessing plaque instability.
• To improve risk stratification for patients with atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

• Review and selection of proteins from proteomic studies on unstable atherosclerotic plaques.
• Identification of 76 candidate proteins based on presence in at least two studies.
• Focus on both classical inflammatory and newly identified molecular markers.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive panel of 76 proteins associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability was curated.
• This panel includes diverse markers, from inflammatory proteins to novel candidates.
• The selected proteins have been identified in multiple proteomic analyses of unstable plaques.

Conclusions:

• A single molecular marker is insufficient to predict plaque rupture due to disease complexity.
• A panel of 76 proteins offers a more accurate prognostic signature for plaque instability.
• This protein signature could enhance the identification of patients at risk of occlusive events.