The role of activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex in diabetes associated atherosclerosis: Insights from single cell RNA sequencing

Despite unprecedented advances in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD), it remains the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes worldwide. Lipid-laden atherosclerotic plaque development within the arterial vessel wall is initiated with endothelial cell activation, monocyte adhesion and foam cell formation. Although the current focus has been on mitigation of risk factors, the disease continues to progress, and thus newer approaches and druggable targets need to be identified that can directly inhibit the underlying pathobiology of atherosclerosis. We utilised a single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) approach to distinguish the proatherogenic transcriptional profile of aortic ce­lls in diabetes. Control and diabetic (streptozotocin induced) Apoe-/- mice were monitored over a 10 week study period, follwed by scRNA-seq analysis of dissociated aortae using the 10X genomics platform and reagents.