Bayesian network analysis of panomic biological big data identifies the importance of triglyceride-rich LDL in atherosclerosis development

INTRODUCTION: We sought to explore biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis in an unbiased fashion. METHODS: We analyzed 665 patients (mean ± SD age, 56 ± 11 years; 47% male) from the GLOBAL clinical study (NCT01738828). Cases were defined by the presence of any discernable atherosclerotic plaque based on comprehensive cardiac computed tomography (CT). De novo Bayesian networks built out of 37,000 molecular measurements and 99 conventional biomarkers per patient examined the potential causality of specific biomarkers. RESULTS: Most highly ranked biomarkers by gradient boosting were interleukin-6, symmetric dimethylarginine, LDL-triglycerides [LDL-TG], apolipoprotein B48, palmitoleic acid, small dense LDL, alkaline phosphatase, and asymmetric dimethylarginine. In Bayesian analysis, LDL-TG was directly linked to atherosclerosis in over 95% of the ensembles. Genetic variants in the genomic region encoding hepatic lipase (LIPC) were associated with LIPC gene expression, LDL-TG levels and with atherosclerosis. DISCUSSION: Triglyceride-rich LDL particles, which can now be routinely measured with a direct homogenous assay, may play an important role in atherosclerosis development. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: GLOBAL clinical study (Genetic Loci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions); [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01738828?term=NCT01738828&rank=1], identifier [NCT01738828].