A multi-omics approach unveils an association between subclinical atherosclerosis and epigenetic age acceleration mediated by systemic inflammation (RNA-Seq)

Whole blood methylomics, transcriptomics and plasma proteomics were obtained for 391 participants of the Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) study. Epigenetic age was calculated from methylomics data for each participant. Its divergence from chronological age is termed epigenetic age acceleration. Subclinical atherosclerosis burden was estimated by multi-territory 2D/3D vascular ultrasound and by coronary artery calcification. Overall design: 240 PESA participants with extended SA and 240 without SA were matched by sex, age (± 3 years) and traditional CV risk factors (diabetes mellitus, current smoker, dyslipidemia, and hypertension). RNA-Seq and methylomics data were generated from whole blood samples from these individuals. Moreover, hypothesis-free proteomics were generated from plasma samples of these participants. 391 samples fulfilled all quality control requirements in all three omics techniques.