AFM Characterization of the Internal Mammary Artery as a Novel Target for Arterial Stiffening

Figure 6

PCA of patient proteomics, quantitative metadata, and nanomechanical variables. (a) Score plot of the two first components. Each dot represents a patient. Patients colored by group (red - high PWV, green - low PWV). (b) Loading plot of (a) showing the variables that contribute the most of the structured observed in (a); PWV and elastic modulus of hydrated media (E-Hy), dehydrated media (E-Me), adventitia (E-Ad), and combined dehydrated media and adventitia (E-Me+Ad) are four of the most contributing variables to the separation between both groups. (c) Score plot of the two principal components of patient data without the PWV variable. Similar separation between both groups can be observed. (d) Loading plot of (c) shows that E-Hy, E-Me, E-Ad, and E-Me+Ad are four of the most contributing variables to the separation observed. E-Me and E-Ad were highly correlated. Of the SLRPs, mimecan presents the most contribution to the separation between groups observed.

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