TIMP2 and carotid atherosclerosis: Therefore, in the present study, comprehensive mining of single‐cell sequencing data and transcriptome sequencing data combined with the LASSO regression algorithm identified PARK7, RPS24, FTH1, SLC7A8, CYFIP1, OLFML2B, HSD17B14, and TIMP2 as novel features that participate in carotid atherosclerosis progression through the regulation of monocyte function and provide fresh strategies for the prevention and management of advanced carotid atherosclerosis.