This study identifies MEIS1 as an activator of myocardin and vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation, showing its role in promoting the quiescent, differentiated state.

bioRxiv · Sep 28, 2026 · PreprintMolecular Biology

Multiomics unveils extracellular vesicle-driven mechanisms of endothelial communication in human carotid atherosclerosis

Sneha Raju, Mandy E. Turner, Christian Cao, Majed Abdul-Samad, Neil Punwasi, Mark C. Blaser, Rachel M. E. Cahalane, Steven R. Botts, Kamalben Prajapati, Sarvatit Patel, Ruilin Wu, Dakota Gustafson, Natalie J. Galant, Lindsey K. Fiddes, Melody Chemaly, , Kathryn L. Howe

This study identifies EV-driven endothelial communication in human carotid atherosclerosis, showing increased angiogenic activity in symptomatic plaques.

Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology · May 29, 2025Peer-reviewedCell Biology

FHL5 controls vascular disease-associated gene programs in smooth muscle cells

Doris Wong, Gaelle E Auguste, Christian Lacks Lino Cardenas, Adam W. Turner, Yixuan Chen, Yipei Song, Lijiang Ma, R. Noah Perry, Rédouane Aherrahrou, Maniselvan Kuppusamy, Chaojie Yang, José Verdezoto Mosquera, Collin Dube, Mohammad Daud Khan, Meredith Palmore, , Clint L. Miller

This study identifies FHL5 as a causal gene for vascular disease risk through eQTL colocalization and functional analyses, showing its role in vascular remodeling and calcification.

Circulation Research · Apr 5, 2023Peer-reviewedGenomics

Genomic evaluation of circulating proteins for drug target characterisation and precision medicine

Lasse Folkersen, Stefan Gustafsson, Qin Wang, Daniel Hvidberg Hansen, Åsa K. Hedman, Andrew Joseph Schork, Karen M. Page, Daria V. Zhernakova, Yang Wu, James E. Peters, Niclas Ericsson, Sarah E. Bergen, Thibaud Boutin, Andrew D. Bretherick, Stefan Enroth, , Anders Mälarstig

The paper identifies pQTLs for cardiovascular proteins and uses them to evaluate drug targets and suggest new candidates for precision medicine.

bioRxiv · Apr 3, 2020 · PreprintGenetics