Increased levels of low-density lipoproteins are the main risk factor in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Although statin treatment can effectively lower these levels, there is still a residual risk of cardiovascular events. We hypothesize that a specific panel of stress-sensing molecules (alarmins) could indicate the persistence of silent atherosclerosis residual risk. New Zealand White rabbits were divided into: control group (C), a group that received a high-fat diet for twelve weeks (Au), and a treated hyperlipidemic group with a lipid diet for eight weeks followed by a standard diet and hypolipidemic treatment (atorvastatin and PCSK9 siRNA-inhibitor) for four weeks (Asi). Mass spectrometry experiments of left ventricle lysates were complemented by immunologic and genomic studies to corroborate the data. The hyperlipidemic diet determined a general alarmin up-regulation tendency over the C group. A significant spectral abundance increase was measured for specific heat shock proteins, S100 family members, HMGB1, and Annexin A1. The hypolipidemic treatment demonstrated a reversed regulation trend with non-significant spectral alteration over the C group for some of the identified alarmins. Our study highlights the discriminating potential of alarmins in hyperlipidemia or following hypolipidemic treatment. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD035692.
Keywords: alarmins; atherosclerosis; mass spectrometry; proteomics; residual risk.