Female-Biased VSMC GRNs Predict MYH9 as Regulator of Fibrous Plaque Phenotype - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Sex Differences
- #Atherosclerosis
- #Gene Regulatory Networks
- Atherosclerosis involves unstable atheromatous and stable fibrous plaques, with fibrous plaques in females under 50 being less understood.
- Sex-specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from human vascular smooth muscle cells revealed two female-biased networks: GRNfloralwhite (inflammatory pathways) and GRNyellowgreen (actin remodeling pathways).
- Single-cell RNA-sequencing confirmed sex-specific network activity in plaque cells, with GRNyellowgreen enriched for contractile and vascular development pathways.
- Bayesian network modeling identified MYH9 (myosin heavy chain 9) as a key driver gene, with elevated MYH9 linked to increased smooth muscle cell content and reduced lipid in female plaques.
- Proteomic analyses validated MYH9 upregulation in female fibrous plaques, associating it with stable plaque characteristics, highlighting sex-specific regulation in atherosclerosis.