Myocardial Infarction Platelet Gene Expression Signatures in Women

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Platelet Genomics
• Transcriptomics

Background:

• Platelets are key in myocardial infarction (MI) pathogenesis.
• Limited data exists on female MI platelet transcriptomes, especially long-term.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for risk stratification and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the MI platelet transcriptome in women during acute and chronic phases.
• To identify platelet gene expression patterns associated with future cardiovascular events.
• To compare platelet transcriptomes between MI with obstructive vs. non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic analysis of platelets from women post-MI (acute and chronic) and controls.
• Analysis of an independent high-risk cohort to correlate gene expression with outcomes.
• Comparison of platelet gene expression in MI subgroups based on coronary artery disease severity.

Main Results:

• Acute MI platelets show enrichment in actin cytoskeleton, Rho GTPases, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory signaling.
• These transcriptomic changes persist chronically and are linked to future cardiovascular events.
• Women with obstructive coronary artery disease had platelets enriched in neutrophil activation and TNF-α signaling pathways compared to those with non-obstructive disease.
• Hierarchic clustering revealed three distinct MI patient subgroups based on transcriptomic profiles and clinical features.

Conclusions:

• Platelets exhibit distinct transcriptomic profiles in women with MI, both acutely and chronically.
• A specific platelet gene signature after MI is associated with increased risk of future cardiovascular events.
• Platelet transcriptomics can differentiate MI patient subgroups and may offer insights into disease mechanisms and clinical outcomes.