Next Generation Sequencing of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the etiology of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Ribosome-depleted total RNA was sequenced from carotid plaques obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with high-grade stenosis and either 1) a carotid-related ischemic cerebrovascular event within the previous 5 days ('recently ruptured,' n=6) or 2) an absence of a cerebrovascular event ('asymptomatic,' n=5). Examination of the differentially expressed genes supported the importance of inflammation and inhibition of proliferation and migration coupled with an increase in apoptosis. Thus, the transcriptome of recently ruptured plaques is enriched with transcripts associated with inflammation and fibrous cap thinning and support further examination of the role of B lymphocytes and interferons in atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Ribosome-depleted total RNA was sequenced from carotid plaques obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with high-grade stenosis and either 1) a carotid-related ischemic cerebrovascular event within the previous 5 days ('recently ruptured,' n=6) or 2) an absence of a cerebrovascular event ('asymptomatic,' n=5).