Determine exhibiting integration of sex-biased subcellular clusters with tissue-specific gene-regulatory networks. Credit score: Katyayani Sukhavasi
A brand new examine revealed in Nature Cardiovascular Analysis discovered that whereas carotid artery narrowing can result in stroke in each women and men, the signs and plaque traits usually differ between the sexes. Although the principle forms of cells within the plaques are related, necessary variations exist within the smaller constructions inside these cells.
In accordance with the World Well being Group, cardiovascular ailments trigger 17.9 million deaths worldwide. Of those, coronary heart assaults and strokes had been answerable for 85%.
Katyayani Sukhavasi, a Ph.D. scholar in Drugs on the College of Tartu and one of many examine’s authors, defined that organic intercourse has a big affect on carotid stenosis, i.e., carotid artery narrowing, the event of atherosclerosis, and total cardiovascular threat—components which can be additional affected by age and menopause.
“Men tend to develop cardiovascular diseases earlier and are more susceptible, often showing lipid-rich plaques and bleeding. In contrast, women—possibly due to protective effects of pre-menopausal hormones—typically develop carotid stenosis later, with plaque erosion being more common,” mentioned Sukhavasi.
Consequently, understanding these sex-specific variations in carotid artery narrowing is essential. This examine used single-cell RNA sequencing to research cells from carotid plaques collected throughout surgical procedure to take away blockages from the neck arteries in each men and women.
Superior bioinformatic evaluation of the dataset revealed important sex-biased variations within the subcellular composition of carotid plaques, regardless of minimal variations in main cell sorts comparable to easy muscle cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells.
Sukhavasi defined that particularly, females had extra osteogenic easy muscle cells, macrophages that assist regulate the immune response, and endothelial cells that had been becoming mesenchymal cells. Males, then again, had extra chondrocyte-like easy muscle cells, macrophages concerned in tissue reworking, and angiogenic endothelial cells that promote the formation of latest blood vessels.
The examine, “Single cell RNA sequencing reveals sex differences in the subcellular composition and associated gene-regulatory network activity of human carotid plaques,” carried out by Katyayani Sukhavasi, Heli Järve, Arno Ruusalepp, and Johan Björkgren highlights that understanding sex-specific molecular mechanisms and gene regulatory networks in atherosclerotic plaques may help determine potential therapeutic targets for every intercourse.
Sukhavasi emphasised that investigating organic intercourse as a important variable in atherosclerosis is crucial for gaining a extra complete understanding of the illness, enhancing threat prediction, making certain extra correct prognosis, and creating customized and efficient prevention and therapy methods for each women and men.
Extra data:
Katyayani Sukhavasi et al, Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals intercourse variations within the subcellular composition and related gene-regulatory community exercise of human carotid plaques, Nature Cardiovascular Analysis (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44161-025-00628-y
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