Unraveling atherosclerosis through single-cell RNA sequencing: insights into cellular heterogeneity and disease...

Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The characterization of atherosclerotic lesions reveals that they represent a chronic and progressive inflammatory condition affecting the arterial wall. Despite extensive investigations, its complex pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has recently emerged as a transformative tool, enabling detailed analysis of the cellular composition within atherosclerotic plaques. This approach provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of plaque biology. This review provides a concise overview of current scRNA-seq methodologies and highlights their applications in atherosclerosis studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its onset, progression, and potential therapeutic targets.