| Description |
- Background: Thoracic aortic pathology most commonly reviewed at our institution includes aortic aneurysms, acute dissection and acute aortitis, all which are associated with distinct histologic and morphologic features. Spatial transcriptomics enables visualization of individual cell types that correspond to a specific molecular signature, providing valuable insight into the pathogenesis of aortic disease.
Methods: Using human aortic tissue from three separate subjects who underwent repair for an enlarging thoracic aortic aneurysm, acute aortic dissection and acute aortitis, the 10x Genomics Visium platform using the GeoMx digital spatial profiler and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were completed to identify gene expression signatures within single cells and map distinct cellular populations.
Results: Significantly upregulated molecular signatures within pathogenic cell clusters within the aortic intima, media and adventitial layers (including the vaso-vasorum, lymphoid aggregates and peripheral nerve bundles) were identified within 7 annotated cell clusters. In aortic dissection tissue, cluster 1 composed of cells within the medial layer showed IGFBP3 was most upregulated (p= 2.8601E-60). The same cluster for aortic aneurysmal and active aortitis tissues revealed APOD (p=6.286E-230) and HSPB7 (p=2.574E-142) were most significantly increased, respectively (see Table 1 for full list).
Aortic Dissection Aortic Aneurysm Aortitis
Cluster 1 Gene P-value
IGFBP3 2.8601E-60
C3 1.9841E-53
FLNC 2.4936E-52
PLAT 2.7402E-50
CRYAB 9.2681E-49 Gene P-value
PI16 1.60E-216
PLA2G2A 4.63E-190
FBLN1 7.650E-187
DCN 1.591E-183
C7 1.591E-193
Gene P-value
HSPB7 2.574E-142
SUSD5 5.089E-135
SOST 5.882E-126
RAMP1 1.066E-113
TPM2 1.104E-112
Conclusion: We provide a novel combined molecular-histologic map at the whole transcriptome level of common human aortic pathologies. These findings may facilitate discovery of future novel interventional targets with direct functional relevance for the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic aortic diseases.
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