Serum Proteomic Analysis of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Reveals Distinctive Dysregulation of Inflammatory and Cholesterol Metabolism Pathways

Proteomic Analysis Uncovers Multiprotein Signatures Associated with Early Diabetic Kidney Disease in Youth with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Key Points

Proteomics analyses identified seven proteins predictive of time to development of albuminuria among youth with type 2 diabetes in the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth cohort, 118 proteins predictive of time to development of hyperfiltration, and three proteins predictive of time to rapid eGFR decline. Seven proteins were predictive of all three outcomes (SEM4A, PSB3, dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase, C1RL1, T132A, pyruvate carboxylase, and C1-esterase inhibitor) and have been implicated in immune regulatory mechanisms, metabolic dysregulation, proteostasis, and cellular signaling pathways. Elastic net Cox proportional hazards model identified distinct multiprotein signatures (38–68 proteins) of time to albuminuria, hyperfiltration, and rapid eGFR decline with concordance for models with clinical covariates and selected proteins between 0.81 and 0.96, whereas the concordance for models with clinical covariates only was between 0.56 and 0.63.

Background

The onset of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus often occurs early, leading to complications in young adulthood. Risk biomarkers associated with the early onset of DKD are urgently needed in youth with T2D.

Methods

We conducted an in-depth analysis of 6596 proteins (SomaScan 7K) in 374 baseline plasma samples from the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth study to identify multiprotein signatures associated with the onset of albuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g), a rapid decline in eGFR (annual eGFR decline >3 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and/or ≥3.3% at two consecutive visits), and hyperfiltration (≥135 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at two consecutive visits). Elastic net Cox regression with ten-fold cross-validation was applied to the top 100 proteins (ranked by P value) to identify multiprotein signatures of time to development of DKD outcomes.

Results

Participants in the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth study (14±2 years, 63% female, 7±6 months diabetes duration) experienced high rates of early DKD: 43% developed albuminuria, 48% hyperfiltration, and 16% rapid eGFR decline. Increased levels of seven and three proteins were predictive of shorter time to develop albuminuria and rapid eGFR decline, respectively; 118 proteins predicted time to development of hyperfiltration. Elastic net Cox proportional hazards models identified multiprotein signatures of time to incident early DKD with concordance for models with clinical covariates and selected proteins between 0.81 and 0.96, whereas the concordance for models with clinical covariates only was between 0.56 and 0.63.

Conclusions

Our research sheds new light on proteomic changes early in the course of youth-onset T2D that associate with DKD. Proteomic analyses identified promising risk factors that predict DKD risk in youth with T2D and could deepen our understanding of DKD mechanisms and potential interventions.

Clinical Trial registry name and registration number:

NCT00081328 .

The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is associated with an increased risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy

Background

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure that severely affects women during the late stages of pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Currently, the diagnosis of PPCM is not fully understood and is likely multifactorial. Abnormal lipid metabolism plays an important role in the onset of cardiovascular diseases, especially in patients with heart failure. Moreover, animal experiments have confirmed a possible association between abnormal lipid metabolism and PPCM onset. However, clinical evidence is currently lacking, and reliable and effective indicators for predicting the onset of PPCM are insufficient. The ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) is a novel metabolic marker that is associated with the risk of coronary heart disease. However, the relationship between the TG/HDL-C ratio and the risk of PPCM in parturients remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the role of the TG/HDL-C ratio in predicting the risk of PPCM.

Methods

This study included 600 parturients hospitalized at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 2010 and August 2023 (150 patients with PPCM and 450 healthy parturients). The TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated as triglyceride levels (mmol/L)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (mmol/L). The relationship between the TG/HDL-C ratio and PPCM was analyzed using logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

Significant differences were observed in the TG/HDL-C ratio between patients with PPCM and healthy parturients. The TG/HDL-C ratio was higher in patients with PPCM than in healthy parturients (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the TG/HDL-C ratio increased the risk of PPCM and had predictive accuracy for the onset of PPCM (odds ratio, 1.249; 95% confidence interval, 1.004-1.553; p = 0.046). Moreover, the TG/HDL-C ratio was positively correlated with the NT-proBNP levels at the onset of PPCM (R 2 = 0.081, p = 0.008).

Conclusions

A higher TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly associated with the risk of PPCM.

Meta-analysis of cardiac magnetic resonance in prognosticating left ventricular function in peripartum cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) may result in a number of detrimental adverse cardiovascular events, notably persistent left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction or even mortality. Imaging parameters on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and their prognostic implications have rarely been perused in PPCM. We aimed to describe CMR's prognostic value in predicting poor left ventricular (LV) function recovery using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T2-weighted or T2 mapping.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PubMed, Europe PMC, and ScienceDirect were screened for studies on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and myocardial oedema using CMR and PPCM. The outcome of interest was poor LV function recovery, with a follow-up period of at least 6 months. Comparisons between groups with the presence of LGE, myocardial oedema, and recovered against non-recovered patients were pooled. A random-effects model was employed to calculate the effect size. All pooled results were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The area under the curve (AUC) was generated to test overall prognostic accuracy. Six cohort studies with 162 patients were included. The mean age of participants in this study was 30.6 years, and the majority of patients were diagnosed with PPCM after delivery. LGE was associated with a higher risk of poor LV function recovery, particularly when conducted at a later stage of disease (≥2.8 months) [RR = 2.83 (95% CI = 1.25-6.40); P = 0.001]. On the contrary, CMR conducted early (<2.8 months) exhibited a greater predictive value for myocardial oedema perceived by T2 mapping [RR = 3.44 (95% CI = 1.04-11.34); P = 0.043]. Diagnostic-test accuracy meta-analysis revealed that LGE had a sensitivity of 73% (95% CI, 56-85%), specificity of 79% (95% CI, 45-95%), and AUC of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.75-0.82) in predicting poor LV recovery when performed in the later phase, whereas significant myocardial oedema in those with non-recovered LV function had a sensitivity of 12% (95% CI, 2-52%), specificity of 68% (95% CI, 39-88%), and AUC of 0.40 (95% CI, 0.36-0.44) while undertaken in the latter phase. Our findings support the notion that inflammation plays a significant role in PPCM and that alterations to tissue composition occur in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrast-enhanced CMR can be utilized as an adjunct examination in post-partum PPCM patients to stratify the risk of poor LV function recovery while conducted at a suitable point in time.

Your Heart Function Has Normalized-What Next After TRED-HF?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

With the widespread implementation of contemporary disease-modifying heart failure therapy, the rates of normalization of ejection fraction are continuously increasing. The TRED-HF trial confirmed that heart failure remission rather than complete recovery is typical in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who respond to therapy. The present review outlines key points related to the management and knowledge gaps of this growing patient group, focusing on patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is substantial heterogeneity among patients with normalized ejection fraction. The specific etiology is likely to affect the outcome, although a multiple-hit phenotype is frequent and may not be identified without comprehensive characterization. A monogenic or polygenic genetic susceptibility is common. Ongoing pathophysiological processes may be unraveled with advanced cardiac imaging, biomarkers, multi-omics, and machine learning technologies. There are limited studies that have investigated the withdrawal of specific heart failure therapies in these patients. Diuretics may be safely withdrawn if there is no evidence of congestion, while continued therapy with at least some disease-modifying therapy is likely to be required to reduce myocardial workload and sustain remission for the vast majority. Understanding the underlying disease mechanisms of patients with normalized ejection fraction is crucial in identifying markers of myocardial relapse and guiding individualized therapy in the future. Ongoing clinical trials should inform personalized approaches to therapy.