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Mone P, Lombardi A, Kansakar U, Varzideh F, Jankauskas SS, Pansini A, Marzocco S, De Gennaro S, Famiglietti M, Macina G, Frullone S, Santulli G. Empagliflozin Improves the MicroRNA Signature of Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Diabetes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 384:116-122. [PMID: 36549862 PMCID: PMC9827502 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.001251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction represents a key mechanism underlying heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), diabetes mellitus (DM), and frailty. However, reliable biomarkers to monitor endothelial dysfunction in these patients are lacking. In this study, we evaluated the expression of a panel of circulating microRNAs (miRs) involved in the regulation of endothelial function in a population of frail older adults with HFpEF and DM treated for 3 months with empagliflozin, metformin, or insulin. We identified a distinctive pattern of miRs that were significantly regulated in HFpEF patients compared to healthy controls and to HFpEF patients treated with the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin. Three miRs were significantly downregulated (miR-126, miR-342-3p, and miR-638) and two were significantly upregulated (miR-21 and miR-92) in HFpEF patients compared to healthy controls. Strikingly, two of these miRs (miR-21 and miR-92) were significantly reduced in HFpEF patients after the 3-month treatment with empagliflozin, whereas no significant differences in the profile of endothelial miRs were detected in patients treated with metformin or insulin. Taken together, our findings demonstrate for the first time that specific circulating miRs involved in the regulation of endothelial function are significantly regulated in frail HFpEF patients with DM and in response to SGLT2 inhibition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We have identified a novel microRNA signature functionally involved in the regulation of endothelial function that is significantly regulated in frail patients with HFpEF and diabetes. Moreover, the treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin caused a modification of some of these microRNAs in a direction that was opposite to what observed in HFpEF patients, indicating a rescue of endothelial function. Our findings are relevant for clinical practice inasmuch as we were able to establish novel biomarkers of disease and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Mone
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Urna Kansakar
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Fahimeh Varzideh
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Stanislovas S Jankauskas
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Antonella Pansini
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Stefania Marzocco
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Stefano De Gennaro
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Michele Famiglietti
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Gaetano Macina
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Salvatore Frullone
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (P.M., A.L., U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.); Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Avellino, Avellino, Italy (P.M., A.P., S.D.G., M.F., G.M., S.F.); University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy (S.M.); International Translational Research and Medical Education Consortium (ITME) and Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy (G.S.); and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York (U.K., F.V., S.S.J., G.S.)
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Giannella A, Riccetti S, Sinigaglia A, Piubelli C, Razzaboni E, Di Battista P, Agostini M, Dal Molin E, Manganelli R, Gobbi F, Ceolotto G, Barzon L. Circulating microRNA signatures associated with disease severity and outcome in COVID-19 patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:968991. [PMID: 36032130 PMCID: PMC9403711 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.968991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 induces a spectrum of clinical conditions ranging from asymptomatic infection to life threatening severe disease. Host microRNAs have been involved in the cytokine storm driven by SARS-CoV-2 infection and proposed as candidate biomarkers for COVID-19. Methods To discover signatures of circulating miRNAs associated with COVID-19, disease severity and mortality, small RNA-sequencing was performed on serum samples collected from 89 COVID-19 patients (34 severe, 29 moderate, 26 mild) at hospital admission and from 45 healthy controls (HC). To search for possible sources of miRNAs, investigation of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in relevant human cell types in vitro. Results COVID-19 patients showed upregulation of miRNAs associated with lung disease, vascular damage and inflammation and downregulation of miRNAs that inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, angiogenesis, and stress response. Compared with mild/moderate disease, patients with severe COVID-19 had a miRNA signature indicating a profound impairment of innate and adaptive immune responses, inflammation, lung fibrosis and heart failure. A subset of the DE miRNAs predicted mortality. In particular, a combination of high serum miR-22-3p and miR-21-5p, which target antiviral response genes, and low miR-224-5p and miR-155-5p, targeting pro-inflammatory factors, discriminated severe from mild/moderate COVID-19 (AUROC 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.95, p<0.0001), while high leukocyte count and low levels of miR-1-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-141-3p, miR-155-5p and miR-4433b-5p predicted mortality with high sensitivity and specificity (AUROC 0.95, 95% CI 0.89-1.00, p<0.0001). In vitro experiments showed that some of the DE miRNAs were modulated directly by SARS-CoV-2 infection in permissive lung epithelial cells. Conclusions We discovered circulating miRNAs associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. The identified DE miRNAs provided clues on COVID-19 pathogenesis, highlighting signatures of impaired interferon and antiviral responses, inflammation, organ damage and cardiovascular failure as associated with severe disease and death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Piubelli
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Razzaboni
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Piero Di Battista
- Maternal and Child Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Agostini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Manganelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Luisa Barzon,
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