Integrated Transcriptomic and Single-Cell Analyses Identify CCR2-Dependent Monocyte–Smooth Muscle Cell Crosstalk in Aortic Aneurysm

Background/Objectives: Aortic aneurysm (AA) involves inflammatory recruitment and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) remodeling, but the cellular contribution of candidate chemokine receptors remains unclear. We prioritized reproducible AA-associated genes, localized their cellular sources, and tested whether monocyte CCR2 influences human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).

Methods

Differentially expressed genes shared by GSE57691 and GSE7084 underwent enrichment, protein–protein interaction, regulatory-network, and drug–gene analyses. Hub genes were assessed in GSE9106 and localized in GSE166676 single-cell RNA-sequencing data. CCR2-silenced THP-1 monocytic cells were indirectly co-cultured with HASMCs. CCR2 knockdown was verified by quantitative PCR; HASMC remodeling-related proteins and 24-h scratch-wound closure were evaluated.