New study comparative metabolomic and proteomic profiling of human carotid atherosclerotic plaque in two Cross-Cultural population

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is the single largest contributor of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Although the deaths due to CVDs have reduced in several western countries, CVDs continues to be the leading cause of death in the western world, including Sweden. In the EU economy, the estimated cost due to CVDs are around EUR 169 billion per year, which is an average of EUR 372 per inhabitant.
India accounts for one-fifth of CVDs associated death worldwide especially in younger population. Within India, the rates of CVDs, blood pressure and increased cholesterol levels are highest in states of Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

Given the high burden of CVDs, prevention through identifying and mitigating risk factors is a priority. Atherosclerosis is an underlying cause of CVDs, and is an inflammatory disease, characterized by narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory cells and fibrotic processes. To date, the disease remains a major threat to human health worldwide despite of the clinical success in lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies. Moreover, the understanding of metabolic process within the plaques has been limited.

The specific aims of the collaboration project are:

• To identify metabolic signatures of high-risk atherosclerotic plaque in study groups from Sweden and India. We aim to identify common subsets of metabolite that are associated with high-risk atherosclerotic plaque in both study group.
• To compare the metabolic and inflammatory profiles of carotid tissue with and without plaque (control).
• To examine the association of metabolic profile of the plaque with increased inflammation?