Multidisciplinary exploration of ancient atherosclerosis: paleo-genomic and paleo-nutritional analysis of a 13th century artificial mummy in China

Abstract

The 13th-century Changzhou Mummy, from the Lower Yangtze region in China, is the earliest known East Asian case of an artificially mummified body employing mercury and cinnabar enema without evisceration. This study conducts multidisciplinary research, integrating paleo-radiological, paleo-pathological, paleo-genetic, and paleo-nutritional analysis to investigate the phenotype, genotype, individual life history, and the process of deliberate mummification performed on this individual. We generate a whole genome with 12.7× coverage, revealing potential genetic predisposition for several atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Stable C and N isotope analysis of bones, teeth and hairs indicates high animal protein consumption as well as terminal illness. Hereditary and dietary risk factors are consistent with the diagnosis of atherosclerosis determined via postmortem examination. Our study, leveraging high-quality ancient DNA, provides a unique opportunity to challenge and rethink the widely accepted consensus on the relationship between atherosclerosis and post-industrial age lifestyles, uncovering unrecognized genetic polymorphisms of ASCVD among ancient individuals, and improving our understanding of the role of genetic factors in the development and evolution of ASCVD.