Hepatic transcript modules are predictive of atherosclerotic lesion burden after a 2-year high cholesterol, high fat diet challenge in baboons [LCLF]

Analysis of hepatic transcript data using unbiased Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify significant modules of genes correlated with lesion burden and performed pathway enrichment analysis of genes in significant modules. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that transcript modules are predictive of atherosclerotic lesion burden after a high cholesterol, high fat diet challenge. Results of the study provide an understanding of the key pathways and genes underlying atherosclerotic lesion burdenafter high cholesterol and high fat diet challenge in baboons . Baboons (n=111; 47 females, 64 males) were maintained a low cholesterol, low fat (LCLF) diet prior to beginning a two-year dietary challenge with a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat (HCHF). Liver biopsy samples were collected just prior to beginning the two-year HCHF diet challenge (while on LCLF diet). The sample number refers to the same animal across all time points.