Integrated single-cell analysis-based classification of vascular mononuclear phagocytes in mouse and human atherosclerosis

2022/09/30 by Alma Zernecke, Florian Erhard, Tobias Weinberger +5 · 179 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases #Biochemistry #Biology #Cell #Cell type #Foam cell #Immune cells in cancer #Immunology #In vitro #Macrophage #Medicine #Pathology #Peripheral blood mononuclear cell #Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics

paper · open access · doi:10.1093/cvr/cvac161

published in Cardiovascular Research 119(8), 1676-1689 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2022/09/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

AIMS: Accumulation of mononuclear phagocytes [monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs)] in the vessel wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Using integrated single-cell analysis of mouse and human atherosclerosis, we here aimed to refine the nomenclature of mononuclear phagocytes in atherosclerotic vessels and to compare their transcriptomic profiles in mouse and human disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We integrated 12 single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets of immune cells isolated from healthy or atherosclerotic mouse aortas, and data from 11 patients (n = 4 coronary vessels, n = 7 carotid endarterectomy specimens) from two studies. Integration of mouse data identified subpopulations with discrete transcriptomic signatures within previously described populations of aortic resident (Lyve1), inflammatory (Il1b), as well as foamy (Trem2hi) macrophages. We identified unique transcriptomic features distinguishing aortic intimal resident macrophages from atherosclerosis-associated Trem2hi macrophages. Also, populations of Xcr1+ Type 1 classical DCs (cDC1), Cd209a+ cDC2, and mature DCs (Ccr7, Fscn1) with a 'mreg-DC' signature were detected. In humans, we uncovered macrophage and DC populations with gene expression patterns similar to those observed in mice. In particular, core transcripts of the foamy/Trem2hi signature (TREM2, SPP1, GPNMB, CD9) mapped to a specific population of macrophages in human lesions. Comparison of mouse and human data and direct cross-species data integration suggested transcriptionally similar macrophage and DC populations in mice and humans. CONCLUSIONS: We refined the nomenclature of mononuclear phagocytes in mouse atherosclerotic vessels, and show conserved transcriptomic features of macrophages and DCs in atherosclerosis in mice and humans, emphasizing the relevance of mouse models to study mononuclear phagocytes in atherosclerosis.

Citations

• Heterogeneity of immune cells in human atherosclerosis revealed by scRNA-Seq

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