Potential shared gene signatures and molecular mechanisms between atherosclerosis and depression: Evidence from transcriptome data

•Machine learning algorithms are used to explore the crosstalk mechanisms between atherosclerosis and depression.•Atherosclerosis may mediate the occurrence of depression through the “tryptophan metabolism” pathway.•Depression may increase the incidence of atherosclerosis by the “lipid and atherosclerosis” pathway.•CASP1 and MMP9 were revealed as the most pivotal candidates linking atherosclerosis and depression.