AUTHOR=Takahira Ryotaro , Ujifuku Kenta , Izumo Tsuyoshi , Xie Ang , Okamura Kazuaki , Morofuji Yoichi , Matsuo Takayuki 

TITLE=Do neutrophil extracellular traps implicate in atheromatous plaques from carotid endarterectomy? Re-analyzes of cDNA microarray data by surgeons

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1267136

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1267136

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background] Carotid artery stenosis is the cause of 15% strokes. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) are believed to be involved in thrombosis. This pilot study described the differentially expression profile of NETs between atheromatous plaques and surrounding tissues. [Methods] Microarray datasets of carotid plaques were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. The normalized data were processed into comma-separated value matrix files using spreadsheet software.Analyses of microarray data were conducted using integrated Differential Expression and Pathway analysis. [Result]  The clustering results illustrated that the classifications of plaque and control had reasonable biological validity. Pathway analysis revealed the relevance of immune response, cell signaling, and other pathways. Differentially expressed genes were detected between carotid plaques and control specimens. However, enrichment analyses did not reveal a difference in PAD4 expression between the groups, and that NETs implication was only found in one cDNA microarray dataset. [Discussion]    This pilot study does not necessarily dismiss the possibility of a relationship between NETs and atherothrombotic stroke. Gene expression could differ between endothelial cells and atheromas, and further studies are needed.