RNA seq analysis of primary human macrophages exposed to atheroma plaques homogenates with or without the Liver X receptor (LXR) antagonist GSK 2033

To identify potential LXR target genes induced in the context of atherosclerosis we performed a transcriptomic analysis of human macrophages exposed or not to human carotid plaque homogenates in the presence or the absence of the LXR antagonist GSK 2033. We used primary macrophages from three distincts donors exposed to three differents plaque homogenates. After 6 days of differentiation in the presence of M-CSF, differentiated human macrophages were treated with whole plaque homogenate (1% v/v in cell culture medium) for 48 hours with or without 1μM GSK2033. For plaque extracts used in cells treatment, lipid rich cores of human carotid plaque samples were carefully dissected under aseptic conditions and were homogenized with 3 volumes of cold NaCl 150 mmol/L and briefly sonicated.