microRNA expression signatures and parallels between monocyte subsets and atherosclerotic plaque in humans

Small non-coding microRNAs (miRs) have emerged to play critical roles in cardiovascular biology. Monocytes critically drive atherosclerotic plaque formation, and can be subdivided into a classical and non-classical subset. Here we scrutinized the miR signature of human classical and non-classical monocytes, and compared miR expression profiles of atherosclerotic plaques from human carotid arteries and healthy arteries. This study includes cell samples from human sorted classical and non-classical monocyte subset, as well as pooled sample from carotid artery plaque and Ae. mammaria.