Methods and composition for identifying therapeutic agents of atherosclerotic plaque lesions

3) A diagnostic method of artherosclerosis or cardiovascular disorders relating to the atherosclerotic plaque in a biological sample of a subject comprising the analysis of the differential expression of at least two gene coding a protein chosen among Stearoyl CoA desaturase, Phosphatidic acid phosphate, and Phosphoinositide-specific-phospholipase-B1, eventually in association with the analysis of the differential expression of at least one gene coding a protein choosen in the group comprising Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163 Stearoyl CoA deasturase, Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163.

11) Method of screening compounds useful for the treatment of artherosclerosis or cardiovascular disorders relating to the atherosclerotic plaque comprising the analysis of the differential expression of at least two gene coding a protein chosen among Stearoyl CoA desaturase, Phosphatidic acid phosphate, and Phosphoinositide-specific-phospholipase-B1, eventually in association with the analysis of the differential expression of at least one gene coding a protein among Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163 Stearoyl CoA deasturase, Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163 in the presence of a test compound.

21) The use of a compound modulating the expression of at least two gene coding a protein chosen among Stearoyl CoA desaturase, Phosphatidic acid phosphate, and Phosphoinositide-specific-phospholipase-B1, and eventually modulating the expression of at least one gene coding a protein among Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163 Stearoyl CoA deasturase, Aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, Sphingomyelinase, Acid ceramidase, Ceramide glucosyl transferase, Sphingosin phosphate liase, Thymosine beta 4, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, ATPase Ca++ binding protein and CD163 or modulating the activity of said at least one protein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition useful for preventing and/or treating artherosclerosis or cardiovascular disorders relating to the atherosclerotic plaque.