Sequencing of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques from Diabetic Subjects

Diabetes Mellitus is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarctions and strokes due to accelerated atherosclerotic plaque development and rupture. The mechanisms driving plaque rupture in the diabetic setting remain unclear. We sequenced ribosome-depleted total RNA from carotid plaques obtained from diabetic subjects undergoing carotid endarterectomy with high-grade stenosis, who either recently experienced a carotid-related ischemic cerebrovascular event (Symptomatic, n=6) or had no such event (Asymptomatic, n=6). The goal was to compare the transcriptomes of symptomatic to asymptomatic subjects to determine the processes contributing to plaque rupture in the diabetic population.