Journal of the American Heart Association, Volume 15, Issue 6 , March 17, 2026. BackgroundMonocytes contribute to atherosclerosis by migrating into inflamed endothelium and differentiating into lipid‐laden macrophages.
In people living with HIV, chronic inflammation increases atherosclerosis risk, yet the role of specific monocyte subsets remains unclear. We investigated how distinct monocyte populations contribute to vascular pathology in early HIV‐associated atherosclerosis.MethodsWe profiled 123 965 circulating monocytes using single‐cell RNA sequencing and integrated plasma microparticle proteomics in 32 individuals stratified by HIV and atherosclerosis status.
Supervised learning identified cluster‐ and disease‐specific signatures, validated by platelet‐monocyte cocultures, reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction, bulk RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and ELISA.ResultsSeven monocyte clusters were identified, including a subset characterized by platelet–monocyte complexes. Bulk RNA sequencing of platelet–monocyte cocultures revealed platelet‐driven upregulation of genes involved in inflammation, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and endothelial adhesion.
Journal of the American Heart Association published a clinical update in Cardiology on 13 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Monocytes Defined by Platelet Interactions and Oxidative Stress Signaling Underlie HIV‐Associated Atherosclerosis.
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