Stroke emboli from patients with atrial fibrillation enriched with neutrophil extracellular traps.

Publication/Presentation Date

2-1-2024

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent literature has demonstrated remarkable heterogeneity in the composition of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) emboli, which may impact susceptibility to therapy.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we explored differences in proteomic composition of retrieved embolic material from patients with stroke with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) (AF+ and AF-, respectively).

METHODS: The full proteome of retrieved thromboembolic material from 24 patients with AIS was obtained by mass spectrometry. Known marker proteins were assigned groups representing broad classes of embolus components: red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils, eosinophils, histones, complement, and other clotting-associated proteins (eg, fibrinogen). Relative protein abundances were compared between AF+ and AF- samples. Functional implications of differences were explored with gene set enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and visualization tool.

RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six proteins were differentially expressed between AF+ and AF- specimens. Eight out of the 15 neutrophil proteins (

CONCLUSION: The present analysis suggests enrichment of NETs in emboli of patients with stroke and AF. NETs are a significant though understudied structural component of thrombi. This work suggests not only unique stroke biology in AF but also potential therapeutic targets for AIS in this population.

Volume

8

Issue

2

First Page

102347

Last Page

102347

ISSN

2475-0379

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

38496712

Department(s)

Department of Surgery

Document Type

Article

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