Fig. 3

Validation of ferroptosis- and lipid metabolism-associated DEPs using IHC in a validation cohort. A Representative images (see Additional file 1: Figure S4a,b for 500 µm images) of immunohistochemical staining of TFR1, TF, AIFM2, DPP4, and GCLC proteins in stable and unstable plaques in the plaque fibrous cap region (black arrows) and immunohistochemical staining for SLC1A5, BID, and APOA5 proteins in the plaque lipid core region (black arrows). B In unstable plaques, the levels of TFR1, TF, AIFM2, DPP4, GCLC, SLC1A5, BID, and APOA5 were significantly increased, while other differences were not statistically significant. IHC immunohistochemistry. TFR1 transferrin receptor protein 1; TF transferrin; AIFM2 apoptosis-inducing factor 2; DPP4 dipeptidyl peptidase 4; GCLC glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic. SLC1A5 solute carrier family 1, member 5; BID BH3 interacting-domain death agonist; APOA5, apolipoprotein A-V; CETP cholesteryl ester transfer protein. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 Student’s t test (two-tailed distribution)