Scientists discovered three new markers in the body that could help doctors identify heart disease before symptoms appear. Using advanced genetic technology, researchers studied immune cells called macrophages that play a key role in clogged arteries. They found that measuring certain proteins in the blood and using special imaging scans might help doctors catch heart disease earlier and monitor how well treatments are working. This research was done in mice and lab studies, so more testing in humans is needed before these tools become available in clinics.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether three specific proteins (Trem2, Folr2, and Slc7a7) could serve as early warning signs for heart disease caused by clogged arteries
  • Who participated: Laboratory mice with atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and tissue samples from human patients with heart disease plaques
  • Key finding: The researchers identified that a protein called soluble Trem2 appears in the blood and may help distinguish between people who have heart disease without symptoms versus those experiencing symptoms. Two other proteins (Folr2 and Slc7a7) showed promise as targets for special imaging scans that could measure disease severity.
  • What it means for you: These findings suggest future blood tests and imaging scans might help doctors catch heart disease earlier, before you feel chest pain or other warning signs. However, this research is still in early stages using mice and lab tests—human clinical trials are needed before these become standard medical tools.

The Research Details

Researchers used cutting-edge genetic technology called single-cell RNA sequencing to examine individual immune cells from mice with clogged arteries. They looked at cells from three different tissues: the aorta (main heart artery), fat tissue, and the liver. They also used another technique called TRAP-seq to see which genes were actively being used in these immune cells. Finally, they tested their findings against human tissue samples from patients with heart disease to see if the patterns matched between mice and humans.

The team then conducted laboratory experiments to test whether removing one of the proteins (Slc7a7) would affect how immune cells absorb harmful cholesterol and form foam cells—a critical step in developing clogged arteries. This helped them understand the biological importance of their discoveries.

This research approach is important because it bridges the gap between basic science and practical medicine. By studying individual cells rather than whole tissues, scientists can identify exactly which cells are causing problems and what signals they’re sending. Finding markers that appear in the blood is valuable because blood tests are simple, non-invasive, and can be done routinely. Understanding how immune cells contribute to clogged arteries could lead to new treatments targeting these specific cells.

This study combines multiple advanced research techniques, which strengthens the findings. The researchers validated their mouse findings against human tissue samples, which is important for relevance to people. However, this is pre-clinical research (done in labs and animals), not human clinical trials. The study identifies promising candidates but doesn’t prove these markers work in actual patients yet. Published in a respected cardiovascular research journal, which indicates peer review by experts in the field.

What the Results Show

The research identified three proteins associated with immune cells in clogged arteries. Soluble Trem2, a protein that can be measured in blood, appeared at different levels in mice with different stages of heart disease. This suggests it could potentially distinguish between people who have silent heart disease (no symptoms) and those experiencing symptoms.

The other two proteins, Folr2 and Slc7a7, were highly expressed in disease-promoting immune cells. These proteins are involved in nutrient uptake (folate and glutamine), which the researchers suggest could be tracked using special PET imaging scans—similar to cancer imaging technology. This could provide doctors with a visual picture of disease burden throughout the body.

When researchers removed the Slc7a7 gene in laboratory cells, those cells absorbed less harmful cholesterol and showed reduced activation of disease-promoting genes. This suggests that glutamine signaling—a chemical communication pathway—may be essential for immune cells to become ‘foam cells’ that accumulate cholesterol and drive atherosclerosis progression.

The study revealed that macrophages (immune cells) have different characteristics depending on which tissue they’re in—aorta, fat, or liver. This tissue-specific diversity suggests that treating heart disease might require different approaches depending on where the disease is most active. The researchers also found that the gene patterns they identified in mice matched patterns seen in human atherosclerotic plaques, supporting the relevance of their findings to human disease.

Previous research has shown that macrophages are important in heart disease, but this study provides more detailed information about which specific genes and proteins these cells use. The identification of circulating biomarkers (proteins in blood) aligns with the medical field’s push toward precision medicine and early detection. The focus on metabolic pathways (how cells use nutrients) represents a newer understanding of how immune cells contribute to disease, moving beyond just inflammation.

This research was conducted in mice and laboratory cell cultures, not in living human patients. Results in animals don’t always translate to humans due to biological differences. The study doesn’t include human clinical trials to prove these markers actually work for diagnosis in real patients. The sample size of human tissue samples isn’t specified, so we don’t know how many patients were studied. The research identifies potential biomarkers but doesn’t yet show they’re better than existing heart disease tests. Long-term follow-up studies would be needed to determine if these markers reliably predict who will develop symptoms.

The Bottom Line

These findings are promising but preliminary. Current recommendation: Continue standard heart disease screening and risk factor management (exercise, healthy diet, blood pressure control, cholesterol management). Future recommendation (pending human trials): Blood tests measuring Trem2 and imaging scans targeting Folr2/Slc7a7 may become useful tools for early detection and monitoring, but this requires validation in human studies first. Confidence level: Low to moderate for clinical application; high for research direction.

People at risk for heart disease (family history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking) should care about this research because better early detection tools could help them. Cardiologists and researchers should follow this work closely. People currently without heart disease risk factors can note this as emerging science but don’t need to take action yet. This research is NOT ready for individual patient use outside of clinical trials.

If these biomarkers move forward to human clinical trials, it typically takes 5-10 years before new diagnostic tests become available in standard medical practice. Even then, they would likely be used alongside existing tests, not as replacements. Benefits would be seen gradually as doctors gain experience using these tools and refine how to interpret results.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once available, users could track blood test results for Trem2 levels over time (if adopted clinically), recording dates and values to monitor trends. Users could also log cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, exercise) that correlate with these biomarkers.
  • Users could set reminders for recommended heart health behaviors: daily 30-minute exercise, weekly heart-healthy meal planning, monthly blood pressure checks, and annual cholesterol screening. The app could show how these behaviors might influence future biomarker levels once tests become available.
  • Long-term tracking would involve recording cardiovascular health metrics (blood pressure, cholesterol, exercise, diet quality) monthly. Once Trem2 or imaging biomarkers become clinically available, users could log test results and track trends over years. The app could generate reports showing correlation between lifestyle changes and biomarker improvements.

This research is preliminary and conducted in laboratory and animal models, not human patients. The biomarkers identified (Trem2, Folr2, Slc7a7) are not yet available for clinical use in humans. Do not use this information to self-diagnose or self-treat heart disease. If you have concerns about heart disease risk, consult with your healthcare provider about appropriate screening and prevention strategies based on current, established medical guidelines. This article describes emerging science that may take years to translate into clinical practice. Always seek professional medical advice before making health decisions.