Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41837135›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in endocrinology2026

Spatio-temporal dynamics of autophagy-associated genes in macrophage-driven atherosclerosis: an integrated omics and experimental study.

Wenqi Cao, Bingyang Wang, Yuxue Wang, Yunyan Li, Hanning Yang, Yue Sun, Lirong Xu, Yongping Lu

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Article in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wenqi Cao *Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Bingyang Wang *Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yuxue Wang *Department of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yunyan LiDepartment of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Hanning YangDepartment of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yue SunDepartment of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Lirong XuDepartment of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yongping LuDepartment of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cardiovascular disease driven by lipid metabolism dysregulation and immune maladaptation. Although macrophage autophagy modulates plaque stability, the specific autophagy-related genes governing AS progression, particularly in spatial and immune contexts, remain poorly defined. This study aimed to systematically identify and characterize key macrophage autophagy-associated genes in AS using an integrated multi-omics approach. Methods: Transcriptomic datasets (GSE270260, GSE100927) and single-cell RNA-seq data (GSE260657) were analyzed. Machine learning (LASSO and RF-SVM) screened for core autophagy-related genes. Their diagnostic value was evaluated using ROC and decision curve analysis. Immune infiltration, functional enrichment (GO/KEGG/GSEA), single-cell clustering, pseudotemporal trajectory analysis, and spatial transcriptomic mapping were performed. Results: Three autophagy-related genes-SNX5, SMG1, and GSK3A-were identified as core regulators. They showed strong diagnostic potential for AS (combined AUC = 0.844) and correlated significantly with immune cell infiltration, particularly B cells and macrophages. Functional enrichment linked them to metabolic reprogramming and immune-inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB. Single-cell and spatial analysis revealed distinct expression patterns across plaque regions and cell types, with pseudotemporal trajectory indicating dynamic upregulation of GSK3A and SMG1 during macrophage-to-foam cell transition. Conclusion: SNX5, SMG1, and GSK3A are pivotal regulators of macrophage lipid handling and immune modulation in AS, exhibiting dynamic spatiotemporal expression within plaques. These genes represent promising diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques.

Indexed as

AtherosclerosisAutophagyMacrophagesAnimalsGene Expression ProfilingHumansMultiomicsTranscriptomeatherosclerosisautophagyimmune microenvironmentmacrophagesingle-cell analysis

Identifiers

PMID41837135
PMCPMC12980078

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.