Inflammatory Cells Accelerated Carotid Artery Calcification via MMP9: Evidences From Single-Cell Analysis

• DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.766613
• Publication Date: 2021-12-06T05:35:56Z
• Authors: Xiaobing Liang; Wanbing He; Hua Zhang; Dongling Luo; Zhengzhipeng Zhang; Aiting Liu; Jinkai Wang; Hui Huang
• Keywords: MMP9; RUNX2

Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is an important predictor of prognosis in atherosclerosis, the phenotypic transformation vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) thought to be a process VC. However, implications and potential mechanisms for VSMCs transition remain unknown. Methods: To study early period, we analyzed single-cell sequencing data from carotid artery calcified core paracellular tissue, based on results enrichment analysis protein-protein interaction analysis. Upstream transcription factors were tracked finally validated using MESA database. Results: We successfully identified subpopulation inflammatory macrophage-like determined that MMP9 factor VSMCs. found RELA regulates expression knockdown attenuated reduced BMP2 macrophage marker LGALS3 states, while serum levels correlated significantly with response. Conclusion: This reveals can regulated by modulating MMP9, providing new idea treatment