Ernest Diez Benavente, Robin J G Hartman, Tim R Sakkers, Marian Wesseling, Yannicke Sloots, Lotte Slenders, Arjan Boltjes, Barend M Mol, Gert J de Borst, Dominique P V de Kleijn, Koen H M Prange, Menno P J de Winther, Johan Kuiper, Mete Civelek, Sander W van der Laan, Steve Horvath, Charlotte Onland-Moret, Michal Mokry, Gerard Pasterkamp, Hester M den Ruijter
BACKGROUND: Epigenetic age estimators (clocks) are predictive of human mortality risk. However, it is not yet known whether the epigenetic age of atherosclerotic plaques is predictive for the risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS: Whole-genome DNA methylation of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques (n=485) and of blood (n=93) from the Athero-Express endarterectomy cohort was used to calculate epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). EAA was linked to clinical characteristics, plaque histology, and future cardiovascular events (n=136)...
April 18, 2024: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology