University of Alabama Birmingham Researcher Updates Understanding of Heart Disease (Spatial Transcriptomic Approach to Understanding Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability).

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama Birmingham has shed new light on the understanding of heart disease, specifically coronary atherosclerotic plaque stability. The study utilized a spatial transcriptomic approach to investigate the vascular microenvironment in patients with stable and unstable plaques. The researchers observed distinct cell-specific and regional transcriptional alterations in unstable plaques, highlighting the role of cellular transdifferentiation and intraplaque plasticity in plaque instability. These findings provide valuable insights for the identification of novel mediators of acute coronary syndrome and potential avenues for preventative and therapeutic treatments. [Extracted from the article]