Omics-based approaches to understand mechanosensitive endothelial biology and atherosclerosis

• Authors: Rachel D. Simmons, Georgia Institute of Technology; Sandeep Kumar, Emory University; Salim Thabet, Emory University; Sanjoli Sur, Georgia Institute of Technology; Hanjoong Jo, Emory University
• Journal Title: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology and Medicine
• Volume: Volume 8, Number 5
• Publisher: Wiley | 2016-08-12, Pages 378-401
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wsbm.1344
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Medicine, Research & Experimental; Research & Experimental Medicine; NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE; WALL SHEAR-STRESS; ACTIVATED PROTEIN-KINASE; NF-KAPPA-B; E-DEFICIENT MICE; CORONARY-ARTERY-DISEASE; DIFFERENTIAL DNA METHYLATION; FLOW-DEPENDENT REGULATION; PARTIAL CAROTID LIGATION; LACKING APOLIPOPROTEIN-E

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease that preferentially occurs in arterial regions exposed to d-flow can be used to indicate disturbed flow or disturbed blood flow. The mechanisms by which d-flow induces atherosclerosis involve changes in the transcriptome, methylome, proteome, and metabolome of multiple vascular cells, especially endothelial cells. Initially, we begin with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the changes that occur at multiple levels owing to d-flow, especially in the endothelium. Also, there are a variety of strategies used for the global profiling of the genome, transcriptome, miRNA-ome, DNA methylome, and metabolome that are important to define the biological and pathophysiological mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Finally, systems biology can be used to integrate these ‘omics’ datasets, especially those that derive data based on a single animal model, in order to better understand the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis development in a holistic manner and how this integrative approach could be used to identify novel molecular diagnostics and therapeutic targets to prevent or treat atherosclerosis. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2016, 8:378–401. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1344. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.