Growth differentiation factor 15 in adverse cardiac remodelling: from biomarker to causal player

Elevated interleukin 8 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels are associated with myocardial pathology in users of anabolic-androgenic steroids

AIMS

In the current paper, we aim to explore the effect of both current and former long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use on regulation of systemic inflammatory markers and mediators of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling and their association with hormones and echocardiographic myocardial pathology in weightlifters.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a cross-sectional study, 93 weightlifting AAS users, of whom 62 were current and 31 were past users, with at least 1-year cumulative AAS use (mean 11 ± 7 accumulated years of AAS use), were compared with 54 non-using weightlifting controls (WLCs) using clinical interview, blood pressure measurements, and echocardiography. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN)-γ, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, sex hormones, and lipids were analysed. It was found that serum levels of IL-8, GDF-15, and MMP-9 were significantly increased in current AAS users compared with former users and WLCs. Matrix metalloproteinase 9, but not IL-8, correlated consistently with sex hormone levels, and sex hormone levels correlated consistently with mean wall thickness, in current users. Moreover, HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in current vs. former AAS users and significantly inversely correlated with MMP-9 in current users. Further, in current users, MMP-9 and IL-8 correlated with markers of myocardial strain, and MMP-9 also correlated with indices of cardiac mass, which was not seen in former users. Mediation analyses suggested that MMP-9 could partly explain hormone-induced alterations in markers of myocardial damage in current users.

CONCLUSION

Long-term AAS is associated with increased levels of markers of inflammation and ECM remodelling, which seems to have a hormone-dependent (MMP-9) and a hormone-independent (IL-8) association with markers of myocardial dysfunction.

Association between growth differentiation factor-15 and adverse outcomes among patients with heart failure: A systematic literature review

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is an emerging biomarker in several conditions. This SLR, conducted following PRISMA guidelines, examined the association between GDF-15 concentration and range of adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Publications were identified from Embase® and Medline® bibliographic databases between January 1, 2014, and August 23, 2022 (congress abstracts: January 1, 2020, to August 23, 2022). Sixty-three publications met the eligibility criteria (55 manuscripts and 8 abstracts; 45 observational studies and 18 post hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Of the 19 outcomes identified, the most frequently reported longitudinal outcomes were mortality (n = 32 studies; all-cause [n = 27] or cardiovascular-related [n = 6]), composite outcomes (n = 28; most commonly mortality ± hospitalization/rehospitalization [n = 19]), and hospitalization/re-hospitalization (n = 11). The most common cross-sectional outcome was renal function (n = 22). Among longitudinal studies assessing independent relationships with outcomes using multivariate analyses (MVA), a significant increase in risk associated with higher baseline GDF-15 concentration was found in 22/24 (92 %) studies assessing all-cause mortality, 4/5 (80 %) assessing cardiovascular-related mortality, 13/19 (68 %) assessing composite outcomes, and 4/8 (50 %) assessing hospitalization/rehospitalization. All (7/7; 100 %) of the cross-sectional studies assessing the relationship with renal function by MVA, and 3/4 (75 %) assessing exercise capacity, found poorer outcomes associated with higher baseline GDF-15 concentrations. This SLR suggests GDF-15 is an independent predictor of mortality and other adverse but nonfatal outcomes in patients with HF. A better understanding of the prognostic role of GDF-15 in HF could improve clinical risk prediction models and potentially help optimize treatment regimens.

Identifying plasma proteomic signatures from health to heart failure, across the ejection fraction spectrum

Circulating proteins may provide insights into the varying biological mechanisms involved in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We aimed to identify specific proteomic patterns for HF, by comparing proteomic profiles across the ejection fraction spectrum. We investigated 4210 circulating proteins in 739 patients with normal (Stage A/Healthy) or elevated (Stage B) filling pressures, HFpEF, or ischemic HFrEF (iHFrEF). We found 2122 differentially expressed proteins between iHFrEF-Stage A/Healthy, 1462 between iHFrEF-HFpEF and 52 between HFpEF-Stage A/Healthy. Of these 52 proteins, 50 were also found in iHFrEF vs. Stage A/Healthy, leaving SLITRK6 and NELL2 expressed in lower levels only in HFpEF. Moreover, 108 proteins, linked to regulation of cell fate commitment, differed only between iHFrEF-HFpEF. Proteomics across the HF spectrum reveals overlap in differentially expressed proteins compared to stage A/Healthy. Multiple proteins are unique for distinguishing iHFrEF from HFpEF, supporting the capacity of proteomics to discern between these conditions.

Novel cardiac extracellular matrix biomarkers in STEMI: Associations with ischemic injury and long-term mortality

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine whether serum levels of proteins related to changes in cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) were associated with ischemic injury assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

The concentrations of six ECM-related proteins (periostin, osteopontin, syndecan-1, syndecan-4, bone morphogenetic protein 7, and growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15) were measured in serum samples from patients on Day 1 and Month 4 after STEMI (n = 239). Ischemic injury was assessed by myocardial salvage index, microvascular obstruction, infarct size, and left ventricular function measured by CMR conducted during the initial admission (median 2 days after admission) and after 4 months. All-cause mortality was recorded after a median follow-up time of 70 months.

RESULTS

Levels of periostin increased from Day 1 to Month 4 after hospitalization, while the levels of GDF-15, osteopontin, syndecan-1, and syndecan-4 declined. At both time points, high levels of syndecan-1 were associated with microvascular obstruction, large infarct size, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, whereas high levels of syndecan-4 at Month 4 were associated with a higher myocardial salvage index and less dilatation of the left ventricle. Higher mortality rates were associated with periostin levels at both time points, low syndecan-4 levels at Month 4, or high GDF-15 levels at Month 4.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with STEMI, we found an association between serum levels of ECM biomarkers and ischemic injury and mortality. The results provide new insight into the role ECM components play in ischemic injury following STEMI and suggests a potential for these biomarkers in prognostication after STEMI.

Abnormal global longitudinal strain and reduced serum inflammatory markers in cardiac AL amyloidosis patients without significant amyloid fibril deposition

Background

Cardiac dysfunction in AL amyloidosis is thought to be partly related to the direct impact of AL LCs on cardiomyocyte function, with the degree of dysfunction at diagnosis as a major determinant of clinical outcomes. Nonetheless, mechanisms underlying LC-induced myocardial toxicity are not well understood.

Methods

We identified gene expression changes correlating with human cardiac cells exposed to a cardiomyopathy-associated κAL LC. We then sought to confirm these findings in a clinical dataset by focusing on clinical parameters associated with the pathways dysregulated at the gene expression level.

Results

Upon exposure to a cardiomyopathy-associated κAL LC, cardiac cells exhibited gene expression changes related to myocardial contractile function and inflammation, leading us to hypothesize that there could be clinically detectable changes in GLS on echocardiogram and serum inflammatory markers in patients. Thus, we identified 29 patients with normal IVSd but abnormal cardiac biomarkers suggestive of LC-induced cardiac dysfunction. These patients display early cardiac biomarker staging, abnormal GLS, and significantly reduced serum inflammatory markers compared to patients with clinically evident amyloid fibril deposition.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings highlight early molecular and functional signatures of cardiac AL amyloidosis, with potential impact for developing improved patient biomarkers and novel therapeutics.

Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) and Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) Levels Are Significantly Associated with Endothelial Injury Indices in Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) represent life-threatening syndromes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In both conditions, endothelial dysfunction is a common denominator, and development of relevant biomarkers is of high importance for both diagnosis and prognosis. Despite the fact that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) have been determined as endothelial injury indices in various clinical settings, their role in HSCT-related complications remains unexplored. In this context, we used immunoenzymatic methods to measure suPAR and GDF-15 levels in HSCT-TMA, acute and/or chronic GVHD, control HSCT recipients, and apparently healthy individuals of similar age and gender. We found considerably greater SuPAR and GDF-15 levels in HSCT-TMA and GVHD patients compared to allo-HSCT and healthy patients. Both GDF-15 and suPAR concentrations were linked to EASIX at day 100 and last follow-up. SuPAR was associated with creatinine and platelets at day 100 and last follow-up, while GDF-15 was associated only with platelets, suggesting that laboratory values do not drive EASIX. SuPAR, but not GDF-15, was related to soluble C5b-9 levels, a sign of increased HSCT-TMA risk. Our study shows for the first time that suPAR and GDF-15 indicate endothelial damage in allo-HSCT recipients. Rigorous validation of these biomarkers in many cohorts may provide utility for their usefulness in identifying and stratifying allo-HSCT recipients with endothelial cell impairment.

Electrocardiographic Associations of Cardiac Biomarkers and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Measures of Fibrosis in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abnormalities in myocardial substrate, including diffuse and replacement fibrosis, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data are sparse on whether electrocardiogram (ECG) measures, coupled with circulating biomarkers, may aid in identifying cardiac fibrosis. This study aimed to determine whether 12-lead ECG and biomarkers together augment the prediction of cardiac fibrosis in participants who are free of known CVD. This is a cross-sectional analysis in the MESA (Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) study at visit 5 (2010 to 2012), with measurements of biomarkers (cardiac troponin T and growth differentiation factor-15), gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and ECG. Logistic regression associations of ECG measures with cardiac magnetic resonance surrogates of fibrosis (highest quartile extracellular volume [interstitial fibrosis] and late gadolinium enhancement [replacement fibrosis]) were adjusted for demographics and risk factors. Using the C-statistic, we evaluated whether adding ECG measures and biomarkers to clinical characteristics improved the prediction of either type of fibrosis. There were 1,170 eligible participants (aged 67.1 ± 8.6 years). Among the ECG measures, QRS duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.41 per 10 ms, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 1.81), major ST-T abnormalities (OR 3.03, 95%CI 1.20, 7.65), and abnormal QRS-T angle (OR 6.32, 95%CI 3.00, 13.33) were associated with replacement fibrosis, whereas only abnormal QRS-T angle (OR 3.05, 95%CI,1.69, 5.48) was associated with interstitial fibrosis. ECG markers, in addition to clinical characteristics, improved the prediction of replacement fibrosis (p = 0.002) but not interstitial fibrosis. The addition of cardiac troponin T and growth differentiation factor-15 to the ECG findings did not significantly improve the model discrimination for either type of cardiac fibrosis. In CVD free participants, simple ECG measures are associated with replacement fibrosis and interstitial fibrosis. The addition of these measures improves identification of replacement but not interstitial fibrosis. These findings may help refine the identification of myocardial scar in the general population.

A network medicine approach to study comorbidities in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND

Comorbidities are expected to impact the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, comorbidity profiles are usually reduced to a few comorbid disorders. Systems medicine approaches can model phenome-wide comorbidity profiles to improve our understanding of HFpEF and infer associated genetic profiles.

METHODS

We retrospectively explored 569 comorbidities in 29,047 HF patients, including 8062 HFpEF and 6585 HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients from a German university hospital. We assessed differences in comorbidity profiles between HF subtypes via multiple correspondence analysis. Then, we used machine learning classifiers to identify distinctive comorbidity profiles of HFpEF and HFrEF patients. Moreover, we built a comorbidity network (HFnet) to identify the main disease clusters that summarized the phenome-wide comorbidity. Lastly, we predicted novel gene candidates for HFpEF by linking the HFnet to a multilayer gene network, integrating multiple databases. To corroborate HFpEF candidate genes, we collected transcriptomic data in a murine HFpEF model. We compared predicted genes with the murine disease signature as well as with the literature.

RESULTS

We found a high degree of variance between the comorbidity profiles of HFpEF and HFrEF, while each was more similar to HFmrEF. The comorbidities present in HFpEF patients were more diverse than those in HFrEF and included neoplastic, osteologic and rheumatoid disorders. Disease communities in the HFnet captured important comorbidity concepts of HF patients which could be assigned to HF subtypes, age groups, and sex. Based on the HFpEF comorbidity profile, we predicted and recovered gene candidates, including genes involved in fibrosis (COL3A1, LOX, SMAD9, PTHL), hypertrophy (GATA5, MYH7), oxidative stress (NOS1, GSST1, XDH), and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ATF6). Finally, predicted genes were significantly overrepresented in the murine transcriptomic disease signature providing additional plausibility for their relevance.

CONCLUSIONS

We applied systems medicine concepts to analyze comorbidity profiles in a HF patient cohort. We were able to identify disease clusters that helped to characterize HF patients. We derived a distinct comorbidity profile for HFpEF, which was leveraged to suggest novel candidate genes via network propagation. The identification of distinctive comorbidity profiles and candidate genes from routine clinical data provides insights that may be leveraged to improve diagnosis and identify treatment targets for HFpEF patients.

Artificial Intelligence-Derived Electrocardiogram Assessment of Cardiac Age and Molecular Markers of Senescence in Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether heart failure (HF) itself is a senescent phenomenon independent of age, and how this is reflected at a molecular level in the circulating progenitor cell niche, and at a substrate level using a novel electrocardiogram (ECG)-based artificial intelligence platform.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between October 14, 2016, and October 29, 2020, CD34⁺ progenitor cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and isolated by magnetic-activated cell sorting from patients of similar age with New York Heart Association functional classes IV (n = 17) and I-II (n = 10) heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and healthy controls (n = 10). CD34⁺ cellular senescence was quantitated by human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression and telomerase expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) protein expression assayed in plasma. An ECG-based artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm was used to determine cardiac age and difference from chronological age (AI ECG age gap).

RESULTS

CD34⁺ counts and telomerase expression were significantly reduced and AI ECG age gap and SASP expression increased in all HF groups compared with healthy controls. Expression of SASP protein was closely associated with telomerase activity and severity of HF phenotype and inflammation. Telomerase activity was more closely associated with CD34⁺ cell counts and AI ECG age gap.

CONCLUSION

We conclude from this pilot study that HF may promote a senescent phenotype independent of chronological age. We show for the first time that the AI ECG in HF shows a phenotype of cardiac aging beyond chronological age, and appears to be associated with cellular and molecular evidence of senescence.

[The role of growth differentiation factor-15 in assessing the prognosis of patients after uncomplicated myocardial infarction]

Aim    To study the role of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in the long-term prognosis for patients after uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods    This study included 118 MI patients aged <70 years with and without ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram (ECG). All patients underwent an examination that included ECG, echocardiography, Holter ECG monitoring, routine laboratory tests, and tests for plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNT) and GDF-15. GDF-15 was measured by ELISA. The dynamics of patients was evaluated by interviews at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The endpoints were cardiovascular death and hospitalization for recurrent MI and/or unstable angina. Results    Median concentration of GDF-15 in MI patients was 2.07 (1.55; 2.73) ng/ml. No significant dependence was found between GDF-15 concentration and age and gender, MI localization, smoking, body weight index, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. During 12-month follow-up, 22.8 % of patients were hospitalized for unstable angina or recurrent MI. In 89.6 % of all cases of recurrent events, GDF-15 was ≥2.07 ng/ml. For patients with GDF-15 in the upper quartile, the time dependence of recurrent MI was logarithmic. High concentrations of NT-proBNP in MI patients were also associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death and recurrent cardiovascular events [RR, 3.3 (95 % CI, 1.87-5.96), р=0.046].Conclusion    A combination of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP at high concentrations significantly reflects an adverse prognosis for patients with uncomplicated MI within 12 months [RR, 5.4 (95 % CI, 3.4-8.5), р=0.004].

Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers reflective of cardiac remodelling in diabetes mellitus: A scoping review

AIMS

The aim of this scoping review is to evaluate the current biomarkers used in the assessment of adverse cardiac remodelling in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and in the diagnosis and prognosis of subsequent cardiovascular disease. We aim to discuss the biomarkers' pathophysiological roles as a reflection of the cardiac remodelling mechanisms in the presence of DM.

METHODS

We performed the literature search to include studies from 2003 to 2021 using the following databases: MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library. Articles that met our inclusion criteria were screened and appraised before being included in this review. The PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews were followed.

RESULTS

Our literature search identified a total of 43 eligible articles, which were included in this scoping review. We identified 15 different biomarkers, each described by at least two studies, that were used to determine signs of cardiac remodelling in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and people with DM. NT-proBNP was identified as the most frequently employed biomarker in this context; however, we also identified emerging biomarkers including hs-CRP, hs-cTnT, and Galectin-3.

CONCLUSION

There is a complex relationship between DM and cardiovascular health, where more research is needed. Current biomarkers reflective of adverse cardiac remodelling in DM are often used to diagnose other CVDs, such as NT-proBNP for heart failure. Hence there is a need for identification of specific biomarkers that can detect early signs of cardiac remodelling in the presence of DM. Further research into these biomarkers and mechanisms can deepen our understanding of their role in DM-associated CVD and lead to better preventative therapies.

Systemic proinflammatory-profibrotic response in aortic stenosis patients with diabetes and its relationship with myocardial remodeling and clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have mainly focused more on how diabetes affects the valve than the myocardium in aortic stenosis (AS). In the pressure-overloaded heart, myocardial fibrosis is an important driver of the progression from compensated hypertrophy to heart failure. Using comprehensive noninvasive imaging and plasma proteomics, we investigated whether and how diabetes aggravates the remodeling of the myocardium and its relation with prognosis in AS patients.

METHODS

Severe AS patients were enrolled in two prospective cohorts for imaging and biomarker analysis. The imaging cohort (n = 253) underwent echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, and the biomarker cohort (n = 100) blood sampling with multiplex proximity extension assay for 92 proteomic biomarkers. The composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure admissions and death was assessed in the imaging cohort.

RESULTS

Diabetic patients were older (70.4 ± 6.8 versus 66.7 ± 10.1 years) with more advanced ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased replacement and diffuse interstitial fibrosis (late gadolinium enhancement % 0.3 [0.0-1.6] versus 0.0 [0.0-0.5], p = 0.009; extracellular volume fraction % 27.9 [25.7-30.1] versus 26.7 [24.9-28.5], p = 0.025) in the imaging cohort. Plasma proteomics analysis of the biomarker cohort revealed that 9 proteins (E-selectin, interleukin-1 receptor type 1, interleukin-1 receptor type 2, galectin-4, intercellular adhesion molecule 2, integrin beta-2, galectin-3, growth differentiation factor 15, and cathepsin D) were significantly elevated and that pathways related to inflammatory response and extracellular matrix components were enriched in diabetic AS patients. During follow-up (median 6.3 years), there were 53 unexpected heart failure admissions or death in the imaging cohort. Diabetes was a significant predictor of heart failure and death, independent of clinical covariates and aortic valve replacement (HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.06-3.31, p = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma proteomic analyses indicate that diabetes potentiates the systemic proinflammatory-profibrotic milieu in AS patients. These systemic biological changes underlie the increase of myocardial fibrosis, diastolic dysfunction, and worse clinical outcomes in severe AS patients with concomitant diabetes.

Association of cardiac troponin T and growth differentiation factor 15 with replacement and interstitial cardiac fibrosis in community dwelling adults: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Background

Subclinical abnormalities in myocardial structure (stage B heart failure) may be identified by cardiac and non-organ specific biomarkers. The associations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) interstitial fibrosis (extracellular volume [ECV]) is unknown and for GDF-15 the association with replacement (late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]) is also unknown. GDF-15 is a systemic biomarker also released by myocytes associated with fibrosis and inflammation. We sought to define the associations of hs-cTnT and GDF-15 with these CMR fibrosis measures in the MESA cohort.

Methods

We measured hs-cTnT and GDF-15 in MESA participants free of cardiovascular disease at exam 5. CMR measurements were complete in 1737 for LGE and 1258 for ECV assessment. We estimated the association of each biomarker with LGE and increased ECV (4th quartile) using logistic regression, adjusted for demographics and risk factors.

Results

Mean age of the participants was 68 ± 9 years. Unadjusted, both biomarkers were associated with LGE, but after adjustment only hs-cTnT concentrations remained significant (4th vs. 1st quartile OR] 7.5, 95% CI: 2.1, 26.6). For interstitial fibrosis both biomarkers were associated with 4th quartile ECV, but the association was attenuated compared to replacement fibrosis. After adjustment, only hs-cTnT concentrations remained significant (1st to 4th quartile OR 1.7, 95%CI: 1.1, 2.8).

Conclusion

Our findings identify that both interstitial and replacement fibrosis are associated with myocyte cell death/injury, but GDF-15 a non-organ specific biomarker prognostic for incident cardiovascular disease is not associated with preclinical evidence of cardiac fibrosis.

The role of serial cardiac biomarkers in prognostication and risk prediction of chronic heart failure: additional scientific insights with hemodynamic feedback

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure (HF) is considered as a chronic long-term and lethal disease and will continue to be a major public health problem. Studying (circulating) biomarkers is a promising field of research and could be the first step toward HF tailored prognostic strategies as well as understanding the response to HF drugs in CHF patients.

AREAS COVERED

In literature, there has been considerable research on elevated biomarker levels that are related to a poor prognosis for HF. Since biomarker levels change over time, it is important to study serial (repeated) biomarker measurements which may help us better understand the dynamic course of HF illness. However, the majority of research focuses predominantly on baseline values of biomarkers. Additionally, remote monitoring devices, like sensors, can be used to link hemodynamic information to freshen biomarker data in order to further ameliorate the management of HF.

EXPERT OPINION

Novel biomarkers and additional scientific insights with hemodynamic feedback strongly aid in the prognostication and risk prediction of chronic HF.

The Presence of Ascending Aortic Dilatation in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Is Negatively Correlated with the Presence of Diabetes Mellitus and Does Not Impair Post-Procedural Outcomes

Both relevant aortic valve stenosis (AS) and aortic valve insufficiency significantly contribute to structural changes in the ascending aorta (AA) and thus to its dilatation. In patients with severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), survival data regarding aortic changes and laboratory biomarker analyses are scarce.

METHODS

A total of 179 patients with severe AS and an available computed tomography were included in this retrospective study. AA was measured, and dilatation was defined as a diameter ≥ 40 mm. Thirty-two patients had dilatation of the AA. A further 32 patients from the present population with a normal AA were matched to the aortic dilatation group with respect to gender, age, body mass index and body surface area, and the resulting study groups were compared with each other. In addition to echocardiographic and clinical characteristics, the expression of cardiovascular biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), growth/differentiation of factor-15 (GDF-15), heart-type fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGF-BP2) and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves for short- and long-term survival were obtained, and Pearson's and Spearman's correlations were calculated to identify the predictors between the diameter of the AA and clinical parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 19% of the total cohort had dilatation of the AA. The study group with an AA diameter ≥ 40 mm showed a significantly low comorbidity with respect to diabetes mellitus in contrast to the comparison cohort with an AA diameter < 40 mm (p = 0.010). This result continued in the correlation analyses performed, as the presence of diabetes mellitus correlated negatively not only with the diameter of the AA (r = -0.404; p = 0.001) but also with the presence of aortic dilatation (r = -0.320; p = 0.010). In addition, the presence of AA dilatation after TAVR was shown to have no differences in terms of patient survival at 1, 3 and 5 years. There were no relevant differences in the cardiovascular biomarkers studied between the patients with dilated and normal AAs.

CONCLUSION

The presence of AA dilatation before successful TAVR was not associated with a survival disadvantage at the respective follow-up intervals of 1, 3 and 5 years. Diabetes mellitus in general seemed to have a protective effect against the development of AA dilatation or aneurysm in patients with severe AS.

Inflammageing and Cardiovascular System: Focus on Cardiokines and Cardiac-Specific Biomarkers

The term "inflammageing" was introduced in 2000, with the aim of describing the chronic inflammatory state typical of elderly individuals, which is characterized by a combination of elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, a high burden of comorbidities, an elevated risk of disability, frailty, and premature death. Inflammageing is a hallmark of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and rapid progression to heart failure. The great experimental and clinical evidence accumulated in recent years has clearly demonstrated that early detection and counteraction of inflammageing is a promising strategy not only to prevent cardiovascular disease, but also to slow down the progressive decline of health that occurs with ageing. It is conceivable that beneficial effects of counteracting inflammageing should be most effective if implemented in the early stages, when the compensatory capacity of the organism is not completely exhausted. Early interventions and treatments require early diagnosis using reliable and cost-effective biomarkers. Indeed, recent clinical studies have demonstrated that cardiac-specific biomarkers (i.e., cardiac natriuretic peptides and cardiac troponins) are able to identify, even in the general population, the individuals at highest risk of progression to heart failure. However, further clinical studies are needed to better understand the usefulness and cost/benefit ratio of cardiac-specific biomarkers as potential targets in preventive and therapeutic strategies for early detection and counteraction of inflammageing mechanisms and in this way slowing the progressive decline of health that occurs with ageing.

GDF15 alleviates the progression of benign tracheobronchial stenosis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inactivating fibroblasts

Benign tracheobronchial stenosis (BTS) is a fatal and incurable disease. Epithelial repair and matrix reconstruction play an important role in the wound repair process. If the interstitial context is not restored and stabilized in time, it can lead to pathological fibrosis. Here we attempted to identify cytokines that are involved in promoting wound repair. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a cytokine secreted by tracheal epithelial cells, which is indispensable for the growth of epithelial cells and inhibits the overgrowth of fibroblasts. GDF15 can counteract transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ1) stimulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tracheal epithelial cells and inhibit fibroblast activation via the TGFβ1-SMAD2/3 pathway. In a rat model of tracheal stenosis, GDF15 supplementation alleviated the degree of tracheal stenosis. These results suggest that GDF15 prevents fibroblast hyperactivation and promotes epithelial repair in injured trachea. GDF15 may be a potential therapy to improve benign tracheobronchial stenosis.

Proinflammatory and cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with echocardiographic abnormalities in children with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVES

Children with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) and taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) have a high prevalence of subclinical cardiac disease. We hypothesized that cardiac disease may be a consequence of dysregulated systemic immune activation driven by HIV infection. We examined cardiovascular and proinflammatory biomarkers and their association with echocardiographic abnormalities in children with PHIV.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of soluble biomarkers from a prospective cohort of children aged 6-16 years with PHIV and age-matched HIV-uninfected comparison group.

METHODS

Cryopreserved plasma samples were used to measure seven soluble biomarkers using multiplex bead assay (Luminex). Multivariable logistic regression assessed how biomarker levels related to cardiac abnormalities.

RESULTS

A total of 406 children participated in this study (195 PHIV and 211 HIV-uninfected). Mean [standard deviation (SD)] ages of PHIV and HIV-uninfected participants were 10.7 (2.6) and 10.8 (2.8) years, respectively. Plasma levels of CRP, TNF-α, ST2, VCAM-1 and GDF-15 were significantly higher in the PHIV group compared with uninfected control ( P  < 0.001). Among children with PHIV, with one-unit representing one SD in biomarker level, a one-unit increase in CRP and GDF-15, was associated with increased odds of having left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.49 (1.02-2.18; P  < 0.040)] and [aOR 1.71 (1.18-2.53; P  = 0.006)], respectively. Each one unit increase in GDF-15 was associated with increased odds of LV hypertrophy [aOR 1.84 (95% CI 1.10-3.10; P  < 0.021)].

CONCLUSION

Children with PHIV had higher levels of proinflammatory and cardiovascular biomarkers compared with HIV-uninfected children. Increased CRP and GDF-15 were associated with cardiac abnormalities in children with PHIV.

A Rising Star of the Multimarker Panel: Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Levels Are an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Acute Heart Failure Patients Admitted to an Emergency Clinical Hospital from Eastern Europe

(1) Background: Acute heart failure (HF) represents one of the most common yet extremely severe presentations in emergency services worldwide, requiring prompt diagnosis, followed by an adequate therapeutic approach, and a thorough risk stratification. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are currently the most widely implemented biomarkers in acute HF, but due to their lack of specificity, they are mainly used as ruling-out criteria. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a novel molecule expressing different pathophysiological pathways in HF, such as fibrosis, remodeling, and oxidative stress. It is also considered a very promising predictor of mortality and poor outcome. In this study, we aimed to investigate the GDF-15’s expression and particularities in patients with acute HF, focusing mainly on its role as a prognosis biomarker, either per se or as part of a multimarker panel. (2) Methods: This unicentric prospective study included a total of 173 subjects, divided into 2 subgroups: 120 patients presented in emergency with acute HF, while 53 were ambulatory-evaluated controls with chronic HF. At admission, all patients were evaluated according to standard clinical echocardiography and laboratory panel, including the assessment of GDF-15. (3) Results: The levels of GDF-15 were significantly higher in patients with acute HF, compared to controls [596 (305−904) vs. 216 (139−305) ng/L, p < 0.01]. GDF-15 also exhibited an adequate diagnostic performance in acute HF, expressed as an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.883 [confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0.828−0.938], similar to that of NT-proBNP (AUC: 0.976, CI 95%: 0.952−1.000), or troponin (AUC: 0.839, CI 95%: 0.733−0.944). High concentrations of GDF-15 were significantly correlated with mortality risk. In a multivariate regression model, GDF-15 was the most important predictor of a poor outcome, superior to NT-proBNP or troponin. (4) Conclusions: GDF-15 proved to be a reliable tool in the multimarker assessment of patients with acute HF. Compared to the gold standard NT-proBNP, GDF-15 presented a similar diagnostic performance, doubled by a significantly superior prognostic value, making it worth being included in a standardized multimarker panel.

Multimarker Analysis of Serially Measured GDF-15, NT-proBNP, ST2, GAL-3, cTnI, Creatinine, and Prognosis in Acute Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Studies on serially measured GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15) in acute heart failure (HF) are limited. Moreover, several pathophysiological pathways contribute to HF. Therefore, we aimed to explore the (additional) prognostic value of serially measured GDF-15 using a multi-marker approach to more accurately predict HF risk.

METHODS

TRIUMPH (Translational Initiative on Unique and Novel Strategies for Management of Patients With Heart Failure) is a prospective cohort of 496 patients with acute HF who were enrolled in 14 hospitals in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2014. Blood sampling was scheduled at 7 moments during 1-year follow-up. GDF-15, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), ST2 (suppression of tumorigenicity 2), galectin-3, troponin I, and creatinine were measured in a central laboratory. We associated repeated measurements of these biomarkers with the composite primary end point of all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalization, using multivariable joint modeling.

RESULTS

Median age was 74 years, and 37% were women. Median baseline GDF-15 was 4632 pg/mL. The primary end point was reached in 188 (40%) patients. The average estimated GDF-15 level increased weeks before the primary end point was reached. The hazard ratio per 1 SD difference in log-GDF-15 was 2.14 (95% CI, 1.78-2.57) unadjusted, 1.96 (1.49-2.53) after adjustment for clinical confounders and 1.44 (1.05-1.91) when jointly modeled with all biomarkers. The adjusted HRs for NT-proBNP were 2.38 (1.78-3.33) and 1.52 (1.15-2.08), respectively. The multimarker model combining GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and troponin I provided a favorable risk discrimination (area under the curve=0.785).

CONCLUSIONS

Sequentially measured GDF-15 independently and dynamically predicts risk of adverse outcomes during 1-year follow-up after index admission for acute HF. NT-proBNP remains a robust predictor among potential candidates. Multiple biomarkers should be considered for stratification in clinical practice.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/1783; Unique Identifier: NTR1893. (The trial can be found temporarily at https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NTR1893.).

Proteomic Signature of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in People With HIV: Analysis of the REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy

BACKGROUND

People with HIV (PWH) have subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) despite low traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores. Coronary plaque in PWH presents as a unique phenotype, but little is known about the contributions of specific inflammatory pathways to plaque phenotypes in PWH.

METHODS

The REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy enrolled PWH on ART without known cardiovascular disease. We used a targeted discovery proteomics approach to evaluate 246 unique proteins representing cardiovascular, inflammatory, and immune pathways. Proteomic signatures were determined for presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC > 0) and presence of coronary plaque.

RESULTS

Data were available for 662 participants (aged 51 [SD 6] years, ASCVD risk score 4.9% [SD 3.1%]). Among 12 proteins associated with both CAC and presence of coronary plaque, independent of ASCVD risk score, the odds ratios were highest for NRP1: 5.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-11.4) for CAC and 2.9 (95% CI, 1.4-6.1) for presence of plaque. Proteins uniquely related to presence of plaque were CST3, LTBR, MEPE, PLC, SERPINA5, and TNFSF13B; in contrast, DCN, IL-6RA, OSMR, ST2, and VCAM1 were only related to CAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct immune and inflammatory pathways are differentially associated with subclinical CAD phenotypes among PWH. This comprehensive set of targets should be further investigated to reduce atherosclerosis and ASCVD in PWH.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT02344290.

Prognostic value of soluble ST2, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, and NT-proBNP in type 2 diabetes: a 15-year retrospective study

Background

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) present an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and excess CV-related mortality. Beyond the established role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponins (cTn), other non-cardiac-specific biomarkers are emerging as predictors of CV outcomes in T2DM.

Methods

Serum levels of soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2 (sST2), high-sensitivity (hs)-cTnI, and N-terminal (NT)-proBNP were assessed in 568 patients with T2DM and 115 healthy controls (CTR). Their association with all-cause mortality and the development of diabetic complications was tested in T2DM patients over a median follow-up of 16.8 years using Cox models and logistic regressions.

Results

sST2 followed an increasing trend from CTR to uncomplicated T2DM patients (T2DM-NC) to patients with at least one complication (T2DM-C), while hs-cTnI was significantly higher in T2DM-C compared to CTR but not to T2DM-NC. A graded association was found between sST2 (HR 2.76 [95% CI 1.20–6.33] for ≥ 32.0 ng/mL and 2.00 [1.02–3.94] for 16.5–32.0 ng/mL compared to < 16.5 ng/mL, C-statistic = 0.729), NT-proBNP (HR 2.04 [1.90–4.55] for ≥ 337 ng/L and 1.48 [1.05–2.10] for 89–337 ng/L compared to < 89 ng/L, C-statistic = 0.741), and 15-year mortality in T2DM, whereas increased mortality was observed in patients with hs-cTnI ≥ 7.8 ng/L (HR 1.63 [1.01–2.62]). A ‘cardiac score’ based on the combination of sST2, hs-cTnI, and NT-proBNP was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.35 [1.19–1.53], C-statistic = 0.739) and development of CV events.

Conclusions

sST2, hs-cTnI, and NT-proBNP are associated with 15-year mortality and onset of CV events in T2DM. The long-term prognostic value of sST2 and its ability to track variables related to insulin resistance and associated metabolic disorders support its implementation into routine clinical practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01616-3.

Left Ventricular Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction: From Physiopathology to Treatment

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide, with an incidence relatively high in developed countries and rapidly growing in developing countries. The most common cause of MI is the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque with subsequent thrombotic occlusion in the coronary circulation. This causes cardiomyocyte death and myocardial necrosis, with subsequent inflammation and fibrosis. Current therapies aim to restore coronary flow by thrombus dissolution with pharmaceutical treatment and/or intravascular stent implantation and to counteract neurohormonal activation. Despite these therapies, the injury caused by myocardial ischemia leads to left ventricular remodeling; this process involves changes in cardiac geometry, dimension and function and eventually progression to heart failure (HF). This review describes the pathophysiological mechanism that leads to cardiac remodeling and the therapeutic strategies with a role in slowing the progression of remodeling and improving cardiac structure and function.

Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure and Cardiovascular Biomarkers-New Non-Invasive Ways to Detect Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing TAVR?

Background

Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) frequently present with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The gold standard for detection of pulmonary hypertension is right heart catheterization, which is not routinely performed as a preoperative standard in cardiology centers today, neither before surgical valve replacement nor before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. Echocardiographic determination of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) provides an opportunity to assess the presence or absence of PH. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent to which plasma levels of common cardiovascular biomarkers behave in patients with severe AS and an sPAP < 40 mmHg in comparison to patients with an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg.

Methods

179 patients with echocardiographic evidence of severe AS before TAVR procedure were divided into 2 groups based on sPAP. An sPAP of 40 mmHg was considered the cut-off value, with absence of PH defined by an sPAP < 40 mmHg (n = 82) and presence of PH defined by an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg (n = 97). Directly before TAVR, a blood sample was drawn from each patient, and plasma concentrations of the cardiovascular biomarkers Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), Growth/Differentiation of Factor-15 (GDF-15), Heart-Type Fatty-Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP), Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGF-BP2), Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR), Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) were determined.

Results

Patients with an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg had significantly higher sST2 (p = 0.010), GDF-15 (p = 0.005), IGF-BP2 (p = 0.029), suPAR (p = 0.018), BNP (p < 0.001) and cTnI (p = 0.039) plasma levels. Only for H-FABP (p = 0.069), no significant differences were discernible between the two groups. In addition, cut-off values were calculated to predict an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg. Significant results were shown with 16045.84 pg/mL for sST2 (p = 0.010), with 1117.54 pg/mL for GDF-15 (p = 0.005), with 107028.43 pg/mL for IGF-BP2 (p = 0.029), with 3782.84 pg/mL for suPAR (p = 0.018), with 2248.00 pg/mL for BNP (p < 0.001) and with 20.50 pg/mL for cTnI (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

sPAP as an echocardiographic parameter in combination with supplementary use of cardiovascular biomarkers presented here have the potential to provide more detailed information about the presence or absence of PH in a non-invasive way.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and the Subsequent Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

BACKGROUND

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive biomarker associated with several types of cardiovascular diseases. However, conflicting results have been reported regarding its association with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population.

METHODS

In 10 234 White and Black Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study participants (mean age 60 years, 20.5% Blacks) free of AF at baseline (1993 to 1995), we quantified the association of GDF-15 with incident AF using Cox regression models. GDF-15 concentration was measured by an aptamer-based proteomic method. AF was defined as AF diagnosis by electrocardiogram at subsequent ARIC visits or AF diagnosis in hospitalization records or death certificates. Harrell's c-statistic and categorical net reclassification improvement were computed for risk discrimination and reclassification.

RESULTS

There were 2217 cases of incident AF over a median follow-up of 20.6 years (incidence rate 12.3 cases/1000 person-years). After adjusting for potential confounders, GDF-15 was independently associated with incident AF, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.42 (95% CI, 1.24-1.62) for the top vs bottom quartile. The result remained consistent (HR 1.23 [95% CI, 1.07-1.41]) even after further adjusting for 2 cardiac biomarkers, cardiac troponin T and natriuretic peptide. The results were largely consistent across demographic subgroups. The addition of GDF-15 modestly improved the c-statistic by 0.003 (95% CI, 0.001-0.006) beyond known risk factors of AF.

CONCLUSIONS

In this community-based biracial cohort, higher concentrations of GDF-15 were independently associated with incident AF, supporting its potential value as a clinical marker of AF risk.

How Do Cardiovascular Biomarkers Behave in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis with and without Echocardiographically Proven Pulmonary Hypertension?—A Retrospective Study of Biomarker Trends before and after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background: Since right heart catheterization is rarely performed in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS), echocardiography is currently the tool of choice to determine the presence or absence of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) has established itself as a reliable measurement value for this purpose. The aim of our study was to evaluate the behavior of plasma-level concentrations of novel cardiovascular biomarkers (sST2, GDF-15, H-FABP, IGF-BP2, and suPAR) in patients with severe AS and an sPAP < 40 mmHg in comparison to patients with an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and after TAVR (24 h, 96 h, 3 months, and 12 months). Methods: We retrospectively separated 85 patients with echocardiographic evidence of severe AS before TAVR procedure into two groups based on sPAP level. An sPAP of 40 mmHg was considered the cut-off value, with the absence of PH defined by an sPAP < 40 mmH (n = 32) and the presence of PH defined by an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg (n = 53). Blood samples were drawn from each patient one day before TAVR and 24 h, 96 h, 3 months, and 12 months after TAVR. Plasma concentrations of the cardiovascular biomarkers sST2, GDF-15, H-FABP, IGF-BP2, and suPAR were determined and analyzed with univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression and AUROC curves. Results: Patients with severe AS and an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg had significantly higher plasma concentrations of H-FABP (baseline: p = 0.022; 24 h: p = 0.012; 96 h: p = 0.037; 3 months: p = 0.006; 12 months: p = 0.030) and IGF-BP2 (baseline: p = 0.029; 24 h: p = 0.012; 96 h: p = 0.001; 3 months: p = 0.015; 12 months: p = 0.022) before and continuously up to 12 months after TAVR than did patients with an sPAP < 40 mmHg sST2, with the exception of the 12-month follow-up. We also consistently found significantly higher plasma concentrations in the sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg group (baseline: p = 0.007; 24 h: p = 0.006; 96 h: p = 0.014; 3 months: p ≤ 0.001; 12 months: p = 0.092), whereas suPAR had significantly elevated values at baseline and after 24 h in patients with echocardiographic evidence of PH and significantly decreased values after 3 months (baseline: p = 0.003; 24 h p = 0.041; 96 h: p = 0.127; 3 months: p = 0.006; 12 months: p = 0.477). Plasma concentrations of GDF-15 were only significantly different after 24 h (baseline: p = 0.075; 24 h: p = 0.016; 96 h: p = 0.101; 3 months: p = 0.244; 12 months: p = 0.090). In a multivariate binary logistic regression, atrial fibrillation, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and sST2 at baseline were found to have a significant p-value < 0.050. Conclusion: In this descriptive study, sST2, H-FABP, and IGF-BP2 emerged as the cardiovascular biomarkers with the greatest potential with respect to echocardiographically PH detection in long-term follow-up after TAVR, as patients with an sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg had significantly continuously higher plasma biomarker concentrations than the corresponding cohort did, with an sPAP < 40 mmHg.

Cardiac remodelling - Part 1: From cells and tissues to circulating biomarkers. A review from the Study Group on Biomarkers of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Cardiac remodelling refers to changes in left ventricular structure and function over time, with a progressive deterioration that may lead to heart failure (HF) development (adverse remodelling) or vice versa a recovery (reverse remodelling) in response to HF treatment. Adverse remodelling predicts a worse outcome, whilst reverse remodelling predicts a better prognosis. The geometry, systolic and diastolic function and electric activity of the left ventricle are affected, as well as the left atrium and on the long term even right heart chambers. At a cellular and molecular level, remodelling involves all components of cardiac tissue: cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and leucocytes. The molecular, cellular and histological signatures of remodelling may differ according to the cause and severity of cardiac damage, and clearly to the global trend toward worsening or recovery. These processes cannot be routinely evaluated through endomyocardial biopsies, but may be reflected by circulating levels of several biomarkers. Different classes of biomarkers (e.g. proteins, non-coding RNAs, metabolites and/or epigenetic modifications) and several biomarkers of each class might inform on some aspects on HF development, progression and long-term outcomes, but most have failed to enter clinical practice. This may be due to the biological complexity of remodelling, so that no single biomarker could provide great insight on remodelling when assessed alone. Another possible reason is a still incomplete understanding of the role of biomarkers in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodelling. Such role will be investigated in the first part of this review paper on biomarkers of cardiac remodelling.

Increased serum concentrations of growth differentiation factor-15 in children with acute rheumatic fever

AIM

In this single-centre prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the role of growth differentiation factor-15 in children with acute rheumatic fever.

METHODS

The study group included 25 children with acute rheumatic fever, and the control group included 25 healthy children. In addition to routine laboratory tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of acute rheumatic fever, growth differentiation factor-15 levels of the study group (at the time of diagnosis and after the treatment) and the control group were assessed and compared.

RESULTS

The mean growth differentiation factor-15 level of the study group at the time of diagnosis (918.40 ± 605.65 pg/ml) was significantly higher than the mean post-treatment level (653.08 ± 330.92 pg/ml) (p = 0.015). Similarly, the mean growth differentiation factor-15 level of the study group at the time of diagnosis was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.04). However, mean growth differentiation factor-15 levels were similar between the groups after the treatment. Growth differentiation factor-15 was positively correlated with both C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.001) at the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Growth differentiation factor-15 levels are significantly increased in children with acute rheumatic fever at the time of diagnosis and return to similar levels with healthy children after treatment. Growth differentiation factor-15 is positively and significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein at the time of diagnosis.

Inflammatory Mediators in Atherosclerotic Vascular Remodeling

Atherosclerotic vascular disease remains the most common cause of ischemia, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Vascular function is determined by structural and functional properties of the arterial vessel wall, which consists of three layers, namely the adventitia, media, and intima. Key cells in shaping the vascular wall architecture and warranting proper vessel function are vascular smooth muscle cells in the arterial media and endothelial cells lining the intima. Pathological alterations of this vessel wall architecture called vascular remodeling can lead to insufficient vascular function and subsequent ischemia and organ damage. One major pathomechanism driving this detrimental vascular remodeling is atherosclerosis, which is initiated by endothelial dysfunction allowing the accumulation of intimal lipids and leukocytes. Inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, and modified lipids further drive vascular remodeling ultimately leading to thrombus formation and/or vessel occlusion which can cause major cardiovascular events. Although it is clear that vascular wall remodeling is an elementary mechanism of atherosclerotic vascular disease, the diverse underlying pathomechanisms and its consequences are still insufficiently understood.

Evaluating the adverse outcome of subtypes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction defined by machine learning: A systematic review focused on defining high risk phenogroups

The ability to distinguish clinically meaningful subtypes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has recently been examined by machine learning techniques but studies appear to have produced discordant results. The objective of this study is to synthesize the types of HFpEF by examining their features and relating them to phenotypes with adverse prognosis. A systematic search was conducted using the search terms "Diastolic Heart Failure" OR "heart failure with preserved ejection fraction" OR "heart failure with normal ejection fraction" OR "HFpEF" AND "machine learning" OR "artificial intelligence" OR 'computational biology'. Ten studies were identified and they varied in their prevalence of ten clinical variables: age, sex, body mass index (BMI) or obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or symptom severity (NYHA class or BNP). The clinical findings associated with the different phenotypes in > 85 % of studies were age, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease and worse symptoms severity; an adverse outcome was in 65 % to 85 % of studies identified diabetes mellitus and female sex and in less than 65 % of studies was body mass index or obesity, and coronary artery disease. COPD was a relevant factor in only 33 % of studies. Adverse clinical outcome - death or admission to hospital (for heart failure) defined phenogroups with the worst outcome. Combining the 4 studies that calculated the MAGGIC score showed a significant (p<0.05) linear relationship between MAGGIC score and outcome, using the one-year event rate. A new score based on strength of the evidence of the HFpEF studies analyzed here, using 9 variables (eliminating COPD), showed a significant (p<0.009) linear relationship with one-year event rate. Three studies examined biomarkers in detail and the ones most prominently related to outcome or consistently found in the studies were GDF15, FABP4, FGF23, sST2, renin and TNF. The dominant factors that identified phenotypes of HFpEF with adverse outcome were hypertension, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease and worse symptoms severity. A new simplified score, based on clinical factors, was proposed to assess prognosis in HFpEF. Several biomarkers were consistently elevated in phenogroups with adverse outcomes and may indicate the underlying mechanism or pathophysiology specific for phenotypes with an adverse prognosis.

Pathophysiological pathways related to high plasma GDF-15 concentrations in patients with heart failure

AIMS

Elevated concentrations of Growth Differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with heart failure (HF) have been consistently associated with worse clinical outcomes, but what disease mechanisms high GDF-15 concentrations represent remains unclear. Here, we aim to identify activated pathophysiological pathways related to elevated GDF-15 expression in patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 2279 patients with HF, we measured circulating levels of 363 biomarkers. Then, we performed a pathway over-representation analysis to identify key biological pathways between patients in the highest and lowest GDF-15 concentration quartiles. Data were validated in an independent cohort of 1705 patients with HF. In both cohorts, the strongest up-regulated biomarkers in those with high GDF-15 were fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), death receptor 5 (TRAIL-R2), WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1), TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 11a (TNFRSF11A), leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 4 (LILRB4), and Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3). Pathway over-representation analysis revealed that high GDF-15 patients had increased activity of pathways related to inflammatory processes, notably positive regulation of chemokine production; response to interleukin 6 (IL-6); tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and death receptor activity; and positive regulation of T cell differentiation and inflammatory response. Furthermore, we found pathways involved in regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor signalling and regulatory pathways of tissue, bones, and branching structures. GDF-15 quartiles significantly predicted all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Patients with HF and high plasma concentrations of GDF-15 are characterized by increased activation of inflammatory pathways and pathways related to IGF-1 regulation and bone/tissue remodelling.

Rationale and design of the preserved versus reduced ejection fraction biomarker registry and precision medicine database for ambulatory patients with heart failure (PREFER-HF) study

INTRODUCTION

Patients with heart failure (HF) are classically categorised by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Efforts to predict outcomes and response to specific therapy among LVEF-based groups may be suboptimal, in part due to the underlying heterogeneity within clinical HF phenotypes. A multidimensional characterisation of ambulatory patients with and without HF across LVEF groups is needed to better understand and manage patients with HF in a more precise manner.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

To date, the first cohort of 1313 out of total planned 3000 patients with and without HF has been enroled in this single-centre, longitudinal observational cohort study. Baseline and 1-year follow-up blood samples and clinical characteristics, the presence and duration of comorbidities, serial laboratory, echocardiographic data and images and therapy information will be obtained. HF diagnosis, aetiology of disease, symptom onset and clinical outcomes at 1 and 5 years will be adjudicated by a team of clinicians. Clinical outcomes of interest include all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause hospitalisation, cardiovascular hospitalisation, HF hospitalisation, right-sided HF and acute kidney injury. Results from the Preserved versus Reduced Ejection Fraction Biomarker Registry and Precision Medicine Database for Ambulatory Patients with Heart Failure (PREFER-HF) trial will examine longitudinal clinical characteristics, proteomic, metabolomic, genomic and imaging data to better understand HF phenotypes, with the ultimate goal of improving precision medicine and clinical outcomes for patients with HF.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Information gathered in this research will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Written informed consent for PREFER-HF was obtained from all participants. All study procedures were approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board in Boston, Massachusetts and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (Protocol Number: 2016P000339).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PREFER-HF ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03480633.

Senescence and senolytics in cardiovascular disease: Promise and potential pitfalls

Ageing is the biggest risk factor for impaired cardiovascular health, with cardiovascular disease being the cause of death in 40 % of individuals over 65 years old. Ageing is associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerosis, coronary artery stenosis and subsequent myocardial infarction, thoracic aortic aneurysm, valvular heart disease and heart failure. An accumulation of senescence and increased inflammation, caused by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, have been implicated in the aetiology and progression of these age-associated diseases. Recently it has been demonstrated that compounds targeting components of anti-apoptotic pathways expressed by senescent cells can preferentially induce senescence cells to apoptosis and have been termed senolytics. In this review, we discuss the evidence demonstrating that senescence contributes to cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on studies that indicate the promise of senotherapy. Based on these data we suggest novel indications for senolytics as a treatment of cardiovascular diseases which have yet to be studied in the context of senotherapy. Finally, while the potential benefits are encouraging, several complications may result from senolytic treatment. We, therefore, consider these challenges in the context of the cardiovascular system.

GDF15 Promotes Cardiac Fibrosis and Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via the MAPK/ERK1/2 Pathway after Irradiation in Rats

Ionizing radiation exposure is associated with a risk of cardiac fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), a fibroblast factor, is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Next-generation sequencing analyses has revealed that Gdf15 is increased in cardiac fibroblasts during radiation-induced fibrosis. However, the role of Gdf15 in cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the upregulated expression of GDF15 in newborn rat cardiac fibroblasts and adult rats after irradiation could induce fibrosis, which was confirmed by the increased cell proliferation rate and the increased expression of fibrosis markers (Col1α and αSMA) in newborn rat cardiac fibroblasts after transfection with Gdf15 in vitro. Conversely, the downregulation of GDF15 inhibited cardiac fibrosis, as confirmed by G2/M-cell cycle arrest, suppression of cell proliferation, and low levels of Col1α and αSMA expression. We also found that suppressing the expression of Gdf15 in cardiac fibroblasts could lead to a decrease in CDK1 and inhibit phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Thus, GDF15 might promote cardiac fibroblast fibrosis through the MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of radiation-induced heart disease.

GDF-15: Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance in glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest primary malignant brain tumor and has a remarkably weak prognosis. According to the aggressive form of GBM, understanding the accurate molecular mechanism associated with GBM pathogenesis is essential. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) belongs to transforming growth factor-β superfamily with important roles to control biological processes. It affects cancer growth and progression, drug resistance, and metastasis. It also can promote stemness in many cancers, and also can stress reactions control, bone generation, hematopoietic growth, adipose tissue performance, and body growth, and contributes to cardiovascular disorders. The role GDF-15 to develop and progress cancer is complicated and remains unclear. GDF-15 possesses tumor suppressor properties, as well as an oncogenic effect. GDF-15 antitumorigenic and protumorigenic impacts on tumor development are linked to the cancer type and stage. However, the GDF-15 signaling and mechanism have not yet been completely identified because of no recognized cognate receptor.

Association between Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency

OBJECTIVE

Patients with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) confer a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and increased mortality because of metabolic disorders. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) plays an important role in predicting metabolic abnormalities. We sought to investigate the correlation between GDF-15 and cardiovascular risk in AGHD patients.

METHODS

The study enrolled 80 AGHD patients and 80 healthy subjects. We analyzed the association between GDF-15 and some major biochemical indicators. The potential association between GDF-15 and cardiovascular disease risk was analyzed.

RESULTS

The AGHD group exhibited increased waist-hip ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lipid levels compared with the healthy control group. Serum GDF-15 levels in AGHD group were elevated significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.001). GDF-15 levels were negatively associated with insulin-like growth factor-1 in AGHD group (P=0.006) and positively correlated with waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.018), triglycerides (P=0.007), and hs-CRP (P=0.046). In addition, GDF-15 was positively correlated with Framingham risk score significantly after adjustment for other factors (r = 0.497, P < 0.001). Moreover, GDF-15 was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in AGHD patients after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Elevated GDF-15 levels were significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors and can be considered as a predictive biomarker of cardiovascular risk in AGHD patients.

INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN GROWTH DIFFERENTIATION FACTOR 15, P-SELECTIN AND GALECTIN-3 AND CLINICAL COURSE IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

The aim of our study was to determine the base levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15, P-selectin and Galectin-3 in blood plasma in patients with AH and T2DM and to assess their association with the diseases clinical course. Materials and methods. A total of 121 patients were included in our study (60 female and 61 male, mean age 64.7±10.6 years, with AH and/or T2DM). Patients were divided into three groups: 1st group with AH only (51 patient), 2nd group with AH and T2DM (57 patients) and 3rd group with T2DM only (13 patients, control group). GDF-15, Galectin-3 and P-selectin tests were performed using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (ELISA). Results. Compared with AH without T2DM and T2DM only groups, AH with T2DM group had a statistically significant higher level of GDF-15. Grade 3 hypertension group had a significantly lower level of GDF-15 compared with Grade 1&2 hypertension groups. P-selectin mean level was significantly higher in Grade 3 hypertension group GDF-15 compared with Grade 1&2 hypertension groups. We observed weak correlation between Galectin-3 and GDF-15 in blood plasma, which was confirmed by linear regression analysis. Conclusions. A combination of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus revealed a significant increase of GDF-15 levels in compare with patients with only hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus, which may be due to a greater response to oxidative stress and low-intensity systemic inflammation. P-selectin mean level was higher in patients with grade 3 hypertension, which reflects a greater platelet activation as a part of the systemic inflammatory response. Galectin-3 mean level was higher in patients with stage 3 hypertension compared with patients with stages 1 and 2 due to possibly more pronounced fibrosis progression.

Growth differentiation factor 15 in adverse cardiac remodelling: from biomarker to causal player

Heart failure is a growing health issue as a negative consequence of improved survival upon myocardial infarction, unhealthy lifestyle, and the ageing of our population. The large and complex pathology underlying heart failure makes diagnosis and especially treatment very difficult. There is an urgent demand for discriminative biomarkers to aid disease management of heart failure. Studying cellular pathways and pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to disease initiation and progression is crucial for understanding the disease process and will aid to identification of novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a proven valuable biomarker for different pathologies, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Although the prognostic value of GDF15 in heart failure is robust, the biological function of GDF15 in adverse cardiac remodelling is not fully understood. GDF15 is a distant member of the transforming growth factor-β family and involved in various biological processes including inflammation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. However, more research is suggesting a role in fibrosis, hypertrophy, and endothelial dysfunction. As GDF15 is a pleiotropic protein, elucidating the exact role of GDF15 in complex disease processes has proven to be a challenge. In this review, we provide an overview of the role GDF15 plays in various intracellular and extracellular processes underlying heart failure, and we touch upon crucial points that need consideration before GDF15 can be integrated as a biomarker in standard care or when considering GDF15 for therapeutic intervention.