AUTHOR=Voros Szilard , Bansal Aruna T. , Barnes Michael R. , Narula Jagat , Maurovich-Horvat Pal , Vazquez Gustavo , Marvasty Idean B. , Brown Bradley O. , Voros Isaac D. , Harris William , Voros Viktor , Dayspring Thomas , Neff David , Greenfield Alex , Furchtgott Leon , Church Bruce , Runge Karl , Khalil Iya , Hayete Boris , Lucero Diego , Remaley Alan T. , Newton Roger S. TITLE=Bayesian network analysis of panomic biological big data identifies the importance of triglyceride-rich LDL in atherosclerosis development JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.960419 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.960419 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=Introduction

We sought to explore biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis in an unbiased fashion.

Methods

We analyzed 665 patients (mean ± SD age, 56 ± 11 years; 47% male) from the GLOBAL clinical study (NCT01738828). Cases were defined by the presence of any discernable atherosclerotic plaque based on comprehensive cardiac computed tomography (CT). De novo Bayesian networks built out of 37,000 molecular measurements and 99 conventional biomarkers per patient examined the potential causality of specific biomarkers.

Results

Most highly ranked biomarkers by gradient boosting were interleukin-6, symmetric dimethylarginine, LDL-triglycerides [LDL-TG], apolipoprotein B48, palmitoleic acid, small dense LDL, alkaline phosphatase, and asymmetric dimethylarginine. In Bayesian analysis, LDL-TG was directly linked to atherosclerosis in over 95% of the ensembles. Genetic variants in the genomic region encoding hepatic lipase (LIPC) were associated with LIPC gene expression, LDL-TG levels and with atherosclerosis.

Discussion

Triglyceride-rich LDL particles, which can now be routinely measured with a direct homogenous assay, may play an important role in atherosclerosis development.

Clinical trial registration

GLOBAL clinical study (Genetic Loci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions); [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01738828?term=NCT01738828&rank=1], identifier [NCT01738828].