Unraveling the immune activation mechanisms of DAMPs in coronary artery disease through transcriptomic and single-cell analyses

Abstract

This study employs transcriptomics and single-cell analysis to delve into the mechanisms by which damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) trigger immune activation in coronary artery disease (CAD). We obtained RNA-seq data from the GSE202625 and GSE242046 datasets, as well as single-cell RNA-seq data from the GSE159677 dataset, all sourced from the GEO database. Through differential expression analysis, we identified 821 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), comprising 389 upregulated and 432 downregulated genes, which are likely closely associated with the pathological processes of CAD. Notably, the genes P2RY14 and IFIH1 exhibited significant expression differences in CAD, suggesting their potential involvement in immune responses and inflammatory processes. Our findings indicate a significant infiltration and activation of immune cells in CAD patients, particularly T cells and macrophages. The activation of these cells is likely linked to the release of DAMPs and the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), thereby triggering local and systemic inflammatory responses. Single-cell analysis further revealed distinct clustering patterns of immune cells, especially T cells and B cells, in CAD patients compared to healthy controls. Dendritic cells and macrophages play particularly critical roles in the development of CAD. Dendritic cells bridge innate and adaptive immune responses by presenting antigens to T lymphocytes, potentially either promoting or inhibiting the progression of atherosclerosis. Macrophages exhibit polarization during the atherosclerosis process, with M1-type macrophages tending to promote inflammatory responses, while M2-type macrophages may exert anti-inflammatory effects.