Supervised in silico reconstruction of EndoMT in human atherosclerotic plaques identifies crucial cell populations and processes

Abstract

Background and Aims : In atherosclerosis, endothelial cells can differentiate into mesenchymal cells by a process called EndoMT. In humans, histological studies suggested the presence of EndoMT in atherosclerotic lesions. However, in contrast to murine models, where EndoMT can be studied with lineage tracing techniques, the molecular underpinnings of endoMT in human lesions are not yet known. Consequently, the molecular markers of EndoMT are typically represented by pathways and gene sets curated from genes associated with end-stage mesenchymal cells and do not fully capture this critical process.