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Lee PC, Jung IH, Thussu S, Patel V, Wagoner R, Burks KH, Amrute J, Elenbaas JS, Kang CJ, Young EP, Scherer PE, Stitziel NO. Instrumental variable and colocalization analyses identify endotrophin and HTRA1 as potential therapeutic targets for coronary artery disease. iScience 2024; 27:110104. [PMID: 38989470 PMCID: PMC11233907 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of disease burden globally, and there is a persistent need for new therapeutic targets. Instrumental variable (IV) and genetic colocalization analyses can help identify novel therapeutic targets for human disease by nominating causal genes in genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci. We conducted cis-IV analyses for 20,125 genes and 1,746 plasma proteins with CAD using molecular trait quantitative trait loci variant (QTLs) data from three different studies. 19 proteins and 119 genes were significantly associated with CAD risk by IV analyses and demonstrated evidence of genetic colocalization. Notably, our analyses validated well-established targets such as PCSK9 and ANGPTL4 while also identifying HTRA1 and endotrophin (a cleavage product of COL6A3) as proteins whose levels are causally associated with CAD risk. Further experimental studies are needed to confirm the causal role of the genes and proteins identified through our multiomic cis-IV analyses on human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Lee
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - In-Hyuk Jung
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shreeya Thussu
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ved Patel
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ryan Wagoner
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kendall H. Burks
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Junedh Amrute
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jared S. Elenbaas
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chul Joo Kang
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Erica P. Young
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Philipp E. Scherer
- Touchstone Diabetes Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nathan O. Stitziel
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Chen Q, Zhang JL, Yang JS, Jin Q, Yang J, Xue Q, Guang XF. Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers Related to Necroptosis and Immune Infiltration in Coronary Heart Disease. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:4525-4548. [PMID: 39006493 PMCID: PMC11246668 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s457469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Necroptosis, a monitored form of inflammatory cell death, contributes to coronary heart disease (CHD) progression. This study examined the potential of using necroptosis genes as diagnostic markers for CHD and sought to elucidate the underlying roles. Methods Through bioinformatic analysis of GSE20680 and GSE20681, we first identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to necroptosis in CHD. Hub genes were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and random forest analysis after studying immune infiltration and transcription factor-miRNA interaction networks according to the DEGs. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to further investigate hub gene expression in vivo, for which a diagnostic model was constructed and the predictive efficacy was validated. Finally, the CHD group was categorized into high- and low-score groups in accordance with the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) score of the necroptosis genes. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, GSEA, and further immune infiltration analyses were performed on the two groups to explore the possible roles of hub genes. Results Based on the results of the LASSO regression and random forest analyses, four genes were used to construct a diagnostic model to establish a nomogram. Additionally, an extensive analysis of all seventeen necroptosis genes revealed notable distinctions in expression between high-risk and low-risk groups. Evaluation of immune infiltration revealed that neutrophils, monocytes, B cells, and activated dendritic cells were highly distributed in the peripheral blood of patients with CHD. Specifically, the high CHD score group exhibited greater neutrophil and monocyte infiltration. Conversely, the high-score group showed lower infiltration of M0 and M2 macrophages, CD8+ T, plasma, and resting mast cells. Conclusion TLR3, MLKL, HMGB1, and NDRG2 may be prospective biomarkers for CHD diagnosis. These findings offer plausible explanations for the role of necroptosis in CHD progression through immune infiltration and inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Lei Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie-Shun Yang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Jin
- Department of Cardiology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Yunnan Province, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Xue
- Department of Cardiology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Feng Guang
- Department of Cardiology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People's Republic of China
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Yazdanpanah M, Yazdanpanah N, Chardoli M, Dehghan A. Role of interleukin 6 signaling pathway in the anti-inflammatory effects of statins on coronary artery disease: Evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis. Int J Cardiol 2024; 406:131964. [PMID: 38513732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Statins are currently widely used in the prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) primarily for lipid-lowering with a potential anti-inflammatory effect. However, it is not clear if their potential anti-inflammatory effects are mediated through the interleukin 6 (IL-6) signaling pathway. METHODS Using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach followed by multivariable MR analyses, we examined the extent to which the effects of statins on CAD might be mediated through the IL-6 signaling pathway. RESULTS Our observations showed that HMG-CoA reductase, using LDL levels as a proxy, had a significant effect on upstream IL-6 (βMR = 0.47, P-IVW = 0.01) and nominally significant effects on IL-6RA (βMR = 0.22, P-IVW = 0.047) and APOB (βMR = 0.82, P-IVW = 1.8 × 10-33). While the IL-6 signaling cascade (IL-6RA βMR = -0.06, P-IVW = 3.45 × 10-20 and IL-6 βMR = -0.03, P-IVW = 0.09) and the anti-inflammatory effect of HMG-CoA reductase (βMR = -0.31, P-IVW = 0.01) was found to influence the risk of CAD, the multivariable MR (MVMR) model indicated that the anti-inflammatory effect of HMG-CoA reductase is not likely to be mediated through the IL-6 signaling cascade, including APOB and IL-6RA (MVMRβ = 0.23, P = 0.688). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that statins may use inflammatory mechanisms independent of the IL-6 signaling pathway to prevent CAD. This result could potentially affect the definition of the target population for statin use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Yazdanpanah
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nahid Yazdanpanah
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Chardoli
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Dehghan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Schmidt AF, Finan C, Chopade S, Ellmerich S, Rossor MN, Hingorani AD, Pepys M. Genetic evidence for serum amyloid P component as a drug target in neurodegenerative disorders. Open Biol 2024; 14:230419. [PMID: 39013416 PMCID: PMC11251762 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms responsible for neuronal death causing cognitive loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many other dementias are not known. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a constitutive plasma protein, which is cytotoxic for cerebral neurones and also promotes formation and persistence of cerebral Aβ amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles. Circulating SAP, which is produced exclusively by the liver, is normally almost completely excluded from the brain. Conditions increasing brain exposure to SAP increase dementia risk, consistent with a causative role in neurodegeneration. Furthermore, neocortex content of SAP is strongly and independently associated with dementia at death. Here, seeking genomic evidence for a causal link of SAP with neurodegeneration, we meta-analysed three genome-wide association studies of 44 288 participants, then conducted cis-Mendelian randomization assessment of associations with neurodegenerative diseases. Higher genetically instrumented plasma SAP concentrations were associated with AD (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02; 1.11, p = 1.8 × 10-3), Lewy body dementia (odds ratio 1.37, 95%CI 1.19; 1.59, p = 1.5 × 10-5) and plasma tau concentration (0.06 log2(ng l-1) 95%CI 0.03; 0.08, p = 4.55 × 10-6). These genetic findings are consistent with neuropathogenicity of SAP. Depletion of SAP from the blood and the brain, by the safe, well tolerated, experimental drug miridesap may thus be neuroprotective.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Floriaan Schmidt
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- UCL British Heart Foundation Research Accelerator, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, locatie AMC Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Zuidoost, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Finan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- UCL British Heart Foundation Research Accelerator, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandesh Chopade
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- UCL British Heart Foundation Research Accelerator, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Stephan Ellmerich
- Wolfson Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Medicine, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Martin N. Rossor
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Aroon D. Hingorani
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health, University College London, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- UCL British Heart Foundation Research Accelerator, 69-75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Mark B. Pepys
- Wolfson Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Medicine, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK
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Zhu Y, Li M, Wang H, Yang F, Du R, Pang X, Bai J, Huang X. Mendelian Randomization Identifies Genetically Supported Drug Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3809-3818. [PMID: 38019415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03817-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Currently, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have no effective treatments. Drug repurposing offers a rapid method to meet therapeutic need for ALS and FTD. To identify therapeutic targets associated with ALS and FTD, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization were performed. Genetic instruments were based on transcriptomic and proteomic data for 422 actionable proteins targeted by approved drugs or clinical drug candidates. The publicly available ALS GWAS summary data (including a total of 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls) and FTD GWAS summary data (including a total of 2154 patients with FTD and 4308 controls) were used. Using cis-expression quantitative trait loci and cis-protein quantitative trait loci genetic instruments, we identified several drug targets for repurposing (ALS: MARK3, false-discovery rate (FDR) = 0.043; LTBR, FDR = 0.068) (FTD: HLA-DRB1, FDR = 0.083; ADH5, FDR = 0.056). Our MR study analyzed the actionable druggable proteins and provided potential therapeutic targets for ALS and FTD. Future studies should further elucidate the underlying mechanism of corresponding drug targets in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Zhu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mao Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfen Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - RongRong Du
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyuan Pang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiongming Bai
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xusheng Huang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Mao R, Li J, Xiao W. Identification of prospective aging drug targets via Mendelian randomization analysis. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14171. [PMID: 38572516 PMCID: PMC11258487 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging represents a multifaceted process culminating in the deterioration of biological functions. Despite the introduction of numerous anti-aging strategies, their therapeutic outcomes have often been less than optimal. Consequently, discovering new targets to mitigate aging effects is of critical importance. We applied Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify potential pharmacological targets against aging, drawing upon summary statistics from both the Decode and FinnGen cohorts, with further validation in an additional cohort. To address potential reverse causality, bidirectional MR analysis with Steiger filtering was utilized. Additionally, Bayesian co-localization and phenotype scanning were implemented to investigate previous associations between genetic variants and traits. Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis was conducted to assess the impact of genetic variants on aging via their effects on protein expression. Additionally, mediation analysis was orchestrated to uncover potential intermediaries in these associations. Finally, we probed the systemic implications of drug-target protein expression across diverse indications by MR-PheWas analysis. Utilizing a Bonferroni-corrected threshold, our MR examination identified 10 protein-aging associations. Within this cohort of proteins, MST1, LCT, GMPR2, PSMB4, ECM1, EFEMP1, and ISLR2 appear to exacerbate aging risks, while MAX, B3GNT8, and USP8 may exert protective influences. None of these proteins displayed reverse causality except EFEMP1. Bayesian co-localization inferred shared variants between aging and proteins such as B3GNT8 (rs11670143), ECM1 (rs61819393), and others listed. Mediator analysis pinpointed 1,5-anhydroglucitol as a partial intermediary in the influence LCT exhibits on telomere length. Circulating proteins play a pivotal role in influencing the aging process, making them promising candidates for therapeutic intervention. The implications of these proteins in aging warrant further investigation in future clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Mao
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Aging Biology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Aging Biology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Wenqin Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Aging Biology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaChina
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7
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Zhao SS, Burgess S. Use of Mendelian randomization to assess the causal status of modifiable exposures for rheumatic diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2024:101967. [PMID: 38951047 DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2024.101967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The explosion in Mendelian randomization (MR) publications is hard to ignore and shows no signs of slowing. Clinician readers, who may not be familiar with jargon-ridden methods, are expected to discern the good from the many low-quality studies that make overconfident claims of causality or stretch the plausibility of what MR can investigate. We aim to equip readers with foundational concepts, contextualized using examples in rheumatology, to appraise the many MR papers that are or will appear in their journals. We highlight the importance of assessing whether exposures are under plausibly specific genetic influence, whether the hypothesized causal pathways make biological sense, and whether results stand up to replication and use of control outcomes. Quality of research can vary substantially using MR as with any design, and all methods have inherent limitations. MR studies have provided and can still contribute valuable insights in the context of evidence triangulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizheng Steven Zhao
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Science, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
| | - Stephen Burgess
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Porsch F, Binder CJ. Autoimmune diseases and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024:10.1038/s41569-024-01045-7. [PMID: 38937626 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are associated with a dramatically increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its clinical manifestations. The increased risk is consistent with the notion that atherogenesis is modulated by both protective and disease-promoting immune mechanisms. Notably, traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidaemia and hypertension alone do not explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with autoimmune diseases. Several mechanisms have been implicated in mediating the autoimmunity-associated cardiovascular risk, either directly or by modulating the effect of other risk factors in a complex interplay. Aberrant leukocyte function and pro-inflammatory cytokines are central to both disease entities, resulting in vascular dysfunction, impaired resolution of inflammation and promotion of chronic inflammation. Similarly, loss of tolerance to self-antigens and the generation of autoantibodies are key features of autoimmunity but are also implicated in the maladaptive inflammatory response during atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Therefore, immunomodulatory therapies are potential efficacious interventions to directly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and biomarkers of autoimmune disease activity could be relevant tools to stratify patients with autoimmunity according to their cardiovascular risk. In this Review, we discuss the pathophysiological aspects of the increased cardiovascular risk associated with autoimmunity and highlight the many open questions that need to be answered to develop novel therapies that specifically address this unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentina Porsch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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9
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Georgakis MK, Malik R, El Bounkari O, Hasbani NR, Li J, Huffman JE, Shakt G, Tack RWP, Kimball TN, Asare Y, Morrison AC, Tsao NL, Judy R, Mitchell BD, Xu H, Montasser ME, Do R, Kenny EE, Loos RJ, Terry JG, Carr JJ, Bis JC, Psaty BM, Longstreth WT, Young KA, Lutz SM, Cho MH, Broome J, Khan AT, Wang FF, Heard-Costa N, Seshadri S, Vasan RS, Palmer ND, Freedman BI, Bowden DW, Yanek LR, Kral BG, Becker LC, Peyser PA, Bielak LF, Ammous F, Carson AP, Hall ME, Raffield LM, Rich SS, Post WS, Tracy RP, Taylor KD, Guo X, Mahaney MC, Curran JE, Blangero J, Clarke SL, Haessler JW, Hu Y, Assimes TL, Kooperberg C, Bernhagen J, Anderson CD, Damrauer SM, Zand R, Rotter JI, de Vries PS, Dichgans M. Rare damaging CCR2 variants are associated with lower lifetime cardiovascular risk. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.08.14.23294063. [PMID: 37645892 PMCID: PMC10462211 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.14.23294063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background Previous work has shown a role of CCL2, a key chemokine governing monocyte trafficking, in atherosclerosis. However, it remains unknown whether targeting CCR2, the cognate receptor of CCL2, provides protection against human atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Methods Computationally predicted damaging or loss-of-function (REVEL>0.5) variants within CCR2 were detected in whole-exome-sequencing data from 454,775 UK Biobank participants and tested for association with cardiovascular endpoints in gene-burden tests. Given the key role of CCR2 in monocyte mobilization, variants associated with lower monocyte count were prioritized for experimental validation. The response to CCL2 of human cells transfected with these variants was tested in migration and cAMP assays. Validated damaging variants were tested for association with cardiovascular endpoints, atherosclerosis burden, and vascular risk factors. Significant associations were replicated in six independent datasets (n=1,062,595). Results Carriers of 45 predicted damaging or loss-of-function CCR2 variants (n=787 individuals) were at lower risk of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. One of these variants (M249K, n=585, 0.15% of European ancestry individuals) was associated with lower monocyte count and with both decreased downstream signaling and chemoattraction in response to CCL2. While M249K showed no association with conventional vascular risk factors, it was consistently associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.66 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.54-0.81, p=6.1×10-5) and coronary artery disease (OR: 0.74 95%CI: 0.63-0.87, p=2.9×10-4) in the UK Biobank and in six replication cohorts. In a phenome-wide association study, there was no evidence of a higher risk of infections among M249K carriers. Conclusions Carriers of an experimentally confirmed damaging CCR2 variant are at a lower lifetime risk of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease without carrying a higher risk of infections. Our findings provide genetic support for the translational potential of CCR2-targeting as an atheroprotective approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios K. Georgakis
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Malik
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Omar El Bounkari
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Natalie R. Hasbani
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiang Li
- Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Gabrielle Shakt
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Reinier W. P. Tack
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamara N. Kimball
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yaw Asare
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Alanna C. Morrison
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Noah L. Tsao
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Renae Judy
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Braxton D. Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Huichun Xu
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - May E. Montasser
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ron Do
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eimear E. Kenny
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Center for Genomic Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruth J.F. Loos
- The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - James G. Terry
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John Jeffrey Carr
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua C. Bis
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bruce M. Psaty
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - W. T. Longstreth
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kendra A Young
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
| | - Sharon M Lutz
- Department of Population Medicine, PRecisiOn Medicine Translational Research (PROMoTeR) Center, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael H Cho
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jai Broome
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alyna T. Khan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Fei Fei Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nancy Heard-Costa
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Bigg’s Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and neurodegenerative disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ramachandran S. Vasan
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholette D. Palmer
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Barry I. Freedman
- Section on Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Donald W. Bowden
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Lisa R. Yanek
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian G. Kral
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lewis C. Becker
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Patricia A. Peyser
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lawrence F. Bielak
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Farah Ammous
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - April P. Carson
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
| | - Michael E. Hall
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
| | - Laura M. Raffield
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Stephen S. Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA USA
| | - Wendy S. Post
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Russel P. Tracy
- Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Biochemistry, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Kent D. Taylor
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Xiuqing Guo
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Michael C. Mahaney
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville TX USA
| | - Joanne E. Curran
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville TX USA
| | - John Blangero
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville TX USA
| | - Shoa L. Clarke
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiovascular Medicine), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey W. Haessler
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA 98109 USA
| | - Yao Hu
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA 98109 USA
| | - Themistocles L. Assimes
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiovascular Medicine), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Charles Kooperberg
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA 98109 USA
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK, Munich), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher D. Anderson
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott M. Damrauer
- Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ramin Zand
- Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Jerome I. Rotter
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA USA
| | - Paul S. de Vries
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK, Munich), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
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10
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Chen X, Shen R, Zhu D, Luo S, You G, Li R, Hong X, Li R, Wu J, Huang Y, Lin T. Drug repurposing opportunities for chronic kidney disease. iScience 2024; 27:109953. [PMID: 38947510 PMCID: PMC11214293 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted drugs for the early prevention and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is of great importance. However, the success rates and cost-effectiveness of traditional drug development approaches are extremely low. Utilizing large sample genome-wide association study data for drug repurposing has shown promise in many diseases but has not yet been explored in CKD. Herein, we investigated actionable druggable targets to improve renal function using large-scale Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. We combined two population-scale independent genetic datasets and validated findings with cell-type-dependent eQTL data of kidney tubular and glomerular samples. We ultimately prioritized two drug targets, opioid receptor-like 1 and F12, with potential genetic support for restoring renal function and subsequent treatment of CKD. Our findings explore the potential pathological mechanisms of CKD, bridge the gap between the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and clinical intervention, and provide new strategies in future clinical trials of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Runnan Shen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongxi Zhu
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shulu Luo
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Guochang You
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruijie Li
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaosi Hong
- Department of Endocrinology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruijun Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jihao Wu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yinong Huang
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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11
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Lima-Silva ML, Torres KCL, Mambrini JVDM, Brot NC, Santos SO, Martins-Filho OA, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV. A nationwide study on immunosenescence biomarkers profile in older adults: ELSI-Brazil. Exp Gerontol 2024; 191:112433. [PMID: 38621429 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Immunosenescence is a phenomenon caused by changes in the immune system, and part of these changes involves an increase in circulating immunological biomarkers, a process known as "Inflammaging." Inflammaging can be associated with many diseases related to older people. As the older population continues to grow, understanding changes in the immune system becomes essential. While prior studies assessing these alterations have been conducted in countries with Caucasian populations, this investigation marks a pioneering effort. The object of the study is to describe for the first time that the distribution of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors serum levels, assessed by Luminex platform, has been examined in a Brazilian population-based study of older adult females and males by age. Blood samples from 2111 participants (≥50 years old) were analyzed at the baseline (2015/2016) of the ELSI-Brazil study. The exploratory variables considered in the study were age, sex, educational level, residence area, geographic region, alcohol and smoking consumption, physical activity, and self-reported medical diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and cancer. The association between serum biomarker levels and age was assessed by a quantile regression model adjusted in the total population and stratified by sex. The significance level considered in the analysis was 0.05. The mean age of the participants was 62.9 years, with a slight majority of female (52.7 %). Differences were found between the sexes in the median circulating levels of the CCL11, CXCL10, and FGF biomarkers. Eight biomarkers showed significant associations with age, including the pro-inflammatory CXCL10, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-2; and type 2/regulatory CCL11 and IL-4, showing positive associations, and anti-inflammatory IL-1Ra showing a negative association. The results suggest similar associations between the sexes, revealing an inflammatory profile characterized by types 1 and 2. Remarkably, these findings reinforce the concept of the Inflammaging process in Brazilian population. These findings add novel insights to about the immunosenescence aspects in middle-income countries and help define biomarkers capable of monitoring inflammation in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luiza Lima-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Karen Cecília Lima Torres
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Universidade Edson Antônio Velano - UNIFENAS/MG, Brazil.
| | - Juliana Vaz de Melo Mambrini
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Coimbra Brot
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sara Oliveira Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Olindo Assis Martins-Filho
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas - UEA, Brazil
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas - UEA, Brazil
| | - Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Viana Peixoto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Pública e Envelhecimento, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Departamento de Gestão em Saúde, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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12
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Song W, Li Y, Yao Y, Sun S, Guan X, Wang B. Systematic druggable genome-wide Mendelian randomization identifies therapeutic targets for lung cancer. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:680. [PMID: 38834983 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12449-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug repurposing provides a cost-effective approach to address the need for lung cancer prevention and therapeutics. We aimed to identify actionable druggable targets using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS Summary-level data of gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) were sourced from the eQTLGen resource. We procured genetic associations with lung cancer and its subtypes from the TRICL, ILCCO studies (discovery) and the FinnGen study (replication). We implemented Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer. Colocalization analysis was further conducted to assess whether the identified signal pairs shared a causal genetic variant. FINDINGS In the main analysis dataset, we identified 55 genes that demonstrate a causal relationship with lung cancer and its subtypes. However, in the replication cohort, only three genes were found to have such a causal association with lung cancer and its subtypes, and of these, HYKK (also known as AGPHD1) was consistently present in both the primary analysis dataset and the replication cohort. Following HEIDI tests and colocalization analyses, it was revealed that HYKK (AGPHD1) is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, with an odds ratio and confidence interval of OR = 1.28,95%CI = 1.24 to 1.33. INTERPRETATION We have found that the HYKK (AGPHD1) gene is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, suggesting that this gene may represent a potential therapeutic target for both the prevention and treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfu Song
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yingying Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yaxuan Yao
- The First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Shiling Sun
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
- The First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
| | - Xutao Guan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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Panova-Noeva M, Koeck T, Schoelch C, Schulz A, Prochaska JH, Michal M, Strauch K, Schuster AK, Lackner KJ, Münzel T, Hennige AM, Wild PS. Obesity-related inflammatory protein signature in cardiovascular clinical outcomes: results from the Gutenberg Health Study. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2024; 32:1198-1209. [PMID: 38664310 DOI: 10.1002/oby.24014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate whether an obesity-related inflammatory protein signature (OIPS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. METHODS The Olink Target 96 Inflammation panel was performed in 6662 participants from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). The OIPS was selected by a logistic regression model, and its association with cardiovascular outcomes was evaluated by Cox regression analysis. The GHS-derived OIPS was externally validated in the MyoVasc study. RESULTS The identified OIPS entailed 21 proteins involved in chemokine activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor binding, and growth factor receptor binding. The signature revealed a novel positive association of axis inhibition protein 1 with obesity. The OIPS was associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiac deaths, major adverse cardiovascular events, and incident coronary artery disease, independent of clinical covariates and established risk instruments. A BMI-stratified analysis confirmed the association of OIPS with increased death in those with obesity and overweight and with increased risk for coronary artery disease in those with obesity. The association of OIPS with increased risk of all-cause and cardiac deaths was validated in the MyoVasc cohort. CONCLUSIONS The OIPS showed a significant association with adverse clinical outcomes, particularly in those with overweight and obesity, and represents a promising tool for identifying patients at higher risk for worse cardiovascular outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Panova-Noeva
- Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany
- Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Koeck
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Corinna Schoelch
- Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Andreas Schulz
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen H Prochaska
- Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Michal
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Konstantin Strauch
- Institute for Medical Biometrics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexander K Schuster
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Karl J Lackner
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Cardiology-Cardiology I, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anita M Hennige
- Therapeutic Area CardioMetabolism & Respiratory, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Philipp S Wild
- Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
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14
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Huck DM, Buckley LF, Chandraker A, Blankstein R, Weber B. Targeting Pharmacotherapies for Inflammatory and Cardiorenal Endpoints in Kidney Disease. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2024; 83:511-521. [PMID: 37678318 PMCID: PMC10912396 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000001482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Inflammation is an important contributor to excess cardiovascular risk and progressive renal injury in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dysregulation of the innate and adaptive immune system is accelerated by CKD and results in increased systemic inflammation, a heightened local vascular inflammatory response leading to accelerated atherosclerosis, and dysfunction of the cardiac and renal endothelium and microcirculation. Understanding and addressing the dysregulated immune system is a promising approach to modifying cardiorenal outcomes in people with CKD. However, targeted pharmacotherapies adopted from trials of non-CKD and cardiorheumatology populations are only beginning to be developed and tested in human clinical trials. Pharmacotherapies that inhibit the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome and the downstream cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 are the most well-studied. However, most of the available evidence for efficacy is from small clinical trials with inflammatory and cardiorenal biomarker endpoints, rather than cardiovascular event endpoints, or from small CKD subgroups in larger clinical trials. Other pharmacotherapies that have proven beneficial for cardiorenal endpoints in people with CKD have been found to have pleiotropic anti-inflammatory benefits including statins, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. Finally, emerging therapies in CKD such as interleukin-6 inhibition, small-interfering RNA against lipoproteins, aryl hydrocarbon receptor inhibitors, and therapies adopted from the renal transplant population including mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and T regulatory cell promoters may have benefits for cardiorenal and inflammatory endpoints but require further investigation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Huck
- Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leo F. Buckley
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anil Chandraker
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ron Blankstein
- Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brittany Weber
- Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Saadatagah S, Naderian M, Uddin M, Dikilitas O, Niroula A, Schuermans A, Selvin E, Hoogeveen RC, Matsushita K, Nambi V, Yu B, Chen LY, Bick AG, Ebert BL, Honigberg MC, Li N, Shah A, Natarajan P, Kullo IJ, Ballantyne CM. Atrial Fibrillation and Clonal Hematopoiesis in TET2 and ASXL1. JAMA Cardiol 2024; 9:497-506. [PMID: 38598228 PMCID: PMC11007653 DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Importance Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) may contribute to the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) through its association with inflammation and cardiac remodeling. Objective To determine whether CHIP was associated with AF, inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac structural changes. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a population-based, prospective cohort study in participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and UK Biobank (UKB) cohort. Samples were collected and echocardiography was performed from 2011 to 2013 in the ARIC cohort, and samples were collected from 2006 to 2010 in the UKB cohort. Included in this study were adults without hematologic malignancies, mitral valve stenosis, or previous mitral valve procedure from both the ARIC and UKB cohorts; additionally, participants without hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease from the UKB cohort were also included. Data analysis was completed in 2023. Exposures CHIP (variant allele frequency [VAF] ≥2%), common gene-specific CHIP subtypes (DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1), large CHIP (VAF ≥10%), inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-18, high-sensitivity troponin T [hs-TnT] and hs-TnI, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), and echocardiographic indices. Main Outcome Measure Incident AF. Results A total of 199 982 adults were included in this study. In ARIC participants (4131 [2.1%]; mean [SD] age, 76 [5] years; 2449 female [59%]; 1682 male [41%]; 935 Black [23%] and 3196 White [77%]), 1019 had any CHIP (24.7%), and 478 had large CHIP (11.6%). In UKB participants (195 851 [97.9%]; mean [SD] age, 56 [8] years; 108 370 female [55%]; 87 481 male [45%]; 3154 Black [2%], 183 747 White [94%], and 7971 other race [4%]), 11 328 had any CHIP (5.8%), and 5189 had large CHIP (2.6%). ARIC participants were followed up for a median (IQR) period of 7.0 (5.3-7.7) years, and UKB participants were followed up for a median (IQR) period of 12.2 (11.3-13.0) years. Meta-analyzed hazard ratios for AF were 1.12 (95% CI, 1.01-1.25; P = .04) for participants with vs without large CHIP, 1.29 (95% CI, 1.05-1.59; P = .02) for those with vs without large TET2 CHIP (seen in 1340 of 197 209 [0.67%]), and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.02-2.07; P = .04) for those with vs without large ASXL1 CHIP (seen in 314 of 197 209 [0.16%]). Large TET2 CHIP was associated with higher IL-6 levels. Additionally, large ASXL1 was associated with higher hs-TnT level and increased left ventricular mass index. Conclusions and Relevance Large TET2 and ASXL1, but not DNMT3A, CHIP was associated with higher IL-6 level, indices of cardiac remodeling, and increased risk for AF. Future research is needed to elaborate on the mechanisms driving the associations and to investigate potential interventions to reduce the risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedmohammad Saadatagah
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Mesbah Uddin
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Ozan Dikilitas
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Abhishek Niroula
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Institute of Biomedicine, SciLifeLab, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Art Schuermans
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth Selvin
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ron C. Hoogeveen
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kunihiro Matsushita
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Vijay Nambi
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston
| | - Lin Yee Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | | | - Benjamin L. Ebert
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Prevention of Progression, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael C. Honigberg
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Na Li
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amil Shah
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas
| | - Pradeep Natarajan
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Iftikhar J. Kullo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Gonda Vascular Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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16
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Amancherla K, Schlendorf KH, Vlasschaert C, Lowery BD, Wells QS, See SB, Zorn E, Colombo PC, Reilly MP, Lindenfeld J, Uriel N, Shah RV, Freedman JE, Moslehi J, Bick AG, Clerkin K. Genetic Interleukin-6 Receptor Variant Is Not Associated With Rejection and Mortality After Heart Transplantation. J Card Fail 2024; 30:848-852. [PMID: 38367904 DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Amancherla
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - Kelly H Schlendorf
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Brandon D Lowery
- Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Quinn S Wells
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Sarah B See
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Emmanuel Zorn
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Paolo C Colombo
- Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Muredach P Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Joann Lindenfeld
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Nir Uriel
- Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Ravi V Shah
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jane E Freedman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Javid Moslehi
- Section of Cardio-Oncology and Immunology (JM), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Alex G Bick
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Kevin Clerkin
- Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
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17
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Zhao SS, Gill D. Genetically Proxied IL-6 Receptor Inhibition and Coronary Artery Disease Risk in a Japanese Population. Clin Ther 2024:S0149-2918(24)00107-3. [PMID: 38821768 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2024.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sizheng Steven Zhao
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Science, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
| | - Dipender Gill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, UK
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18
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Zhao SS, Yiu ZZN. Genetically proxied IL-6 receptor inhibition is associated with increased risk of atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024:S0091-6749(24)00554-2. [PMID: 38801923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermatitis has been reported after initiation of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) inhibitors (IL-6Ri), while genetic association studies of atopic dermatitis (AD) have implicated IL-6R pathway signaling. However, causality remains unclear. As the indications for IL-6Ri expand, so do the clinical importance of determining whether there is mechanistic evidence linking it to AD. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to examine the association between IL-6Ri and risk of AD. METHODS To genetically mimic IL-6Ri, we selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms within or near the IL6R gene associated with C-reactive protein at genome-wide significance among 343,524 individuals. Genetic data were obtained from 10,788 individuals with AD and 30,047 controls of European ancestry. We used inverse variance-weighted and pleiotropy-robust methods and examined genetic confounding using colocalization. Analyses were replicated by using 13,473 Finnish and 2,385 East Asian individuals with AD. The results from 3 independent analyses were pooled by meta-analysis. RESULTS Genetically proxied IL-6Ri was associated with increased risk of AD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78 per 4.4-mg/L reduction in C-reactive protein level [95% CI = 1.28-2.48] [P = 6.5 × 10-4]). The results were replicated using Finnish outcome data (OR = 2.07 [95% CI = 1.58-2.72] [P = 1.57 × 10-7]) and Eastern Asian data (OR = 1.68 [95% CI = 1.12-2.54] [P = .013]). Meta-analysis of 3 independent populations (OR = 1.89 [95% CI = 1.57-2.28] [P = 2.68 × 10-11]) showed no evidence of heterogeneity (P = .65). We found no statistical evidence for pleiotropy or genetic confounding. CONCLUSION This genetic investigation provides consistent evidence (across independent multiancestry populations) that IL-6R signaling is causally implicated in AD susceptibility. Clinicians should remain vigilant for adverse effects resembling AD when using IL-6R inhibitors for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizheng Steven Zhao
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biological Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Zenas Z N Yiu
- Dermatology Centre, Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
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19
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Chertow GM, Chang AM, Felker GM, Heise M, Velkoska E, Fellström B, Charytan DM, Clementi R, Gibson CM, Goodman SG, Jardine M, Levin A, Lokhnygina Y, Mears J, Mehran R, Stenvinkel P, Wang AYM, Wheeler DC, Zoccali C, Ridker PM, Mahaffey KW, Tricoci P, Wolf M. IL-6 inhibition with clazakizumab in patients receiving maintenance dialysis: a randomized phase 2b trial. Nat Med 2024:10.1038/s41591-024-03043-1. [PMID: 38796655 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03043-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation mediated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) is strongly associated with cardiovascular risk. Here we evaluated clazakizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-6 ligand, in a phase 2b dose-finding study. Adults with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes receiving maintenance dialysis with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) ≥ 2 mg l-1 at baseline were randomized to receive clazakizumab (2.5 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg, n = 32 per dose group) or placebo (n = 31) every 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in hs-CRP to week 12, expressed as the geometric mean ratio. Clazakizumab treatment signficantly reduced serum hs-CRP concentrations at week 12 by 86%, 90% and 92% relative to placebo in patients randomized to 2.5 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg clazakizumab, respectively (all P < 0.0001), meeting the primary outcome. With regard to secondary endpoints, clazakizumab treatment reduced serum fibrinogen, amyloid A, secretory phospholipase A2, and lipoprotein(a) concentrations, as well as increased mean serum albumin concentrations at 12 weeks, relative to placebo. The proportion of patients who achieved hs-CRP < 2.0 mg l-1 was 79%, 82% and 79% in the 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg clazakizumab groups, respectively, compared with 0% of placebo-treated patients. With regard to safety, no cases of sustained grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia or neutropenia were observed. Serious infections were seen with similar frequency in the placebo, clazakizumab 2.5 mg and clazakizumab 5 mg groups, but were numerically more frequent in the clazakizumab 10 mg group. The results of this trial indicate that in patients receiving maintenance dialysis, clazakizumab reduced inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular events. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05485961 .
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shaun G Goodman
- University of Toronto and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Meg Jardine
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adeera Levin
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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20
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Abou-Karam R, Cheng F, Gady S, Fahed AC. The Role of Genetics in Advancing Cardiometabolic Drug Development. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2024; 26:153-162. [PMID: 38451435 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-024-01195-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The objective of this review is to explore the role of genetics in cardiometabolic drug development. The declining costs of sequencing and the availability of large-scale genomic data have deepened our understanding of cardiometabolic diseases, revolutionizing drug discovery and development methodologies. We highlight four key areas in which genetics is empowering drug development for cardiometabolic disease: (1) identifying drug candidates, (2) anticipating drug target failures, (3) silencing and editing genes, and (4) enriching clinical trials. RECENT FINDINGS Identifying novel drug targets through genetic discovery studies and the use of genetic variants as indicators of potential drug efficacy and safety have become critical components of cardiometabolic drug discovery. We highlight the successes of genetically-informed therapeutic strategies, such as PCSK9 and ANGPTL3 inhibitors in lipid lowering and the emerging role of polygenic risk scores in improving the efficiency of clinical trials. Additionally, we explore the potential of gene silencing and editing technologies, such as antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA, showcasing their promise in addressing diseases refractory to conventional treatments. In this review, we highlight four use cases that demonstrate the vital role of genetics in cardiometabolic drug development: (1) identifying drug candidates, (2) anticipating drug target failures, (3) silencing and editing genes, and (4) enriching clinical trials. Through these advances, genetics has paved the way to increased efficiency of drug development as well as the discovery of more personalized and effective treatments for cardiometabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roukoz Abou-Karam
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street|CPZN 3.128, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Fangzhou Cheng
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street|CPZN 3.128, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shoshana Gady
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street|CPZN 3.128, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Akl C Fahed
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street|CPZN 3.128, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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21
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Giollabhui NM, Slaney C, Hemani G, Foley ÉM, van der Most PJ, Nolte IM, Snieder H, Smith GD, Khandaker G, Hartman CA. Role of Inflammation in Depressive and Anxiety Disorders, Affect, and Cognition: Genetic and Non-Genetic Findings in the Lifelines Cohort Study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.04.17.24305950. [PMID: 38699368 PMCID: PMC11065023 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.17.24305950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Low-grade systemic inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric conditions affecting mood and cognition. While much of the evidence concerns depression, large-scale population studies of anxiety, affect, and cognitive function are scarce. Importantly, causality remains unclear. We used complementary non-genetic, genetic risk score (GRS), and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to examine whether inflammatory markers are associated with affect, depressive and anxiety disorders, and cognitive performance in the Lifelines Cohort; and whether associations are likely to be causal. Methods Using data from up to 55,098 (59% female) individuals from the Dutch Lifelines cohort, we tested the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of C-reactive protein (CRP) with (i) depressive and anxiety disorders; (ii) positive and negative affect scores, and (iii) five cognitive measures assessing attention, psychomotor speed, episodic memory, and executive functioning (figural fluency and working memory). Additionally, we examined the association between inflammatory marker GRSs (CRP, interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-6 receptor [IL-6R and soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R)], glycoprotein acetyls [GlycA]) on these same outcomes (Nmax=57,946), followed by MR analysis examining evidence of causality of CRP on outcomes (Nmax=23,268). In genetic analyses, all GRSs and outcomes were z-transformed. Results In non-genetic analyses, higher CRP was associated with diagnosis of any depressive disorder, lower positive and higher negative affect scores, and worse performance on tests of figural fluency, attention, and psychomotor speed after adjusting for potential confounders, although the magnitude of these associations was small. In genetic analyses, CRPGRS was associated with any anxiety disorder (β=0.002, p=0.037, N=57,047) whereas GlycAGRS was associated with major depressive disorder (β=0.001, p=0.036; N=57,047). Both CRPGRS (β=0.006, p=0.035, N=57,946) and GlycAGRS (β=0.006, p=0.049; N=57,946) were associated with higher negative affect score. Inflammatory marker GRSs were not associated with cognitive performance, except sIL-6RGRS which was associated with poorer memory performance (β=-0.009, p=0.018, N=36,783). Further examination of the CRP-anxiety association using MR provided some weak evidence of causality (β=0.12; p=0.054). Conclusions Genetic and non-genetic analyses provide consistent evidence for an association between CRP and negative affect. Genetic analyses suggest that IL-6 signaling could be relevant for memory, and that the association between CRP and anxiety disorders could be causal. These results suggest that dysregulated immune physiology may impact a broad range of trans-diagnostic affective symptoms. However, given the small effect sizes and multiple tests conducted, future studies are required to investigate whether effects are moderated by sub-groups and whether these findings replicate in other cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoise Mac Giollabhui
- Depression Clinical & Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
| | - Chloe Slaney
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK; Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gibran Hemani
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Éimear M. Foley
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK; Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Ilja M. Nolte
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harold Snieder
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Golam Khandaker
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Catharina A. Hartman
- Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
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22
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Kwok WC, Tsui CK, Leung SHI, Wong CKE, Tam TCC, Ho JCM. Cardiovascular outcomes following hospitalisation for exacerbation of bronchiectasis: a territory-wide study. BMJ Open Respir Res 2024; 11:e001804. [PMID: 38637114 PMCID: PMC11029341 DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although bronchiectasis is reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease, evidence for an association with cardiovascular events (CVEs) is lacking. METHODS A territory-wide retrospective cohort study was conducted in Hong Kong involving all patients who had bronchiectasis diagnosed in public hospitals and clinics between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2017 were included. Patients were allocated to be exacerbator or non-exacerbator group based on hospitalzied bronchiecsis history and CVEs over the next 5 years determined. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics. RESULTS 10 714 bronchiectasis patients (mean age 69.6±14.4 years, 38.9% men), including 1230 in exacerbator group and 9484 in non-exacerbator group, were analysed. At 5 years, 113 (9.2%) subjects in the exacerbator group and 87 (7.1%) in the non-exacerbator group developed composite CVEs. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, bronchiectasis exacerbation was associated with increased risks for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF) and CVE compared with those in the non-exacerbator group with adjusted HR of 1.602 (95% CI 1.006-2.552, p value=0.047), 1.371 (95% CI 1.016-1.851, p value=0.039) and 1.238 (95% CI 1.001-1.532, p=0.049) in the whole cohort. Findings were similar for the propensity score-matched cohort for AMI and CVE. CONCLUSION Patients who were hospitalised for exacerbation of bronchiectasis were at significantly increased risk of AMI, CHF and CVE over a 5-year follow-up period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Chun Kwok
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Chung Ki Tsui
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Sze Him Isaac Leung
- Department of Statistics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - James Chung-Man Ho
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
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23
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Tucker B, Goonetilleke N, Patel S, Keech A. Colchicine in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Heart 2024; 110:618-625. [PMID: 38331560 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2023-323177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation has a direct role in the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease, and oral colchicine displays broad anti-inflammatory properties. Several large, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated colchicine's impact on cardiovascular outcomes. Results from a meta-analysis of these trials demonstrate that colchicine reduces the risk of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) by 25%, leading to its recent approval by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Despite this, colchicine has not been shown to confer any survival benefit in these trials. The non-significant reduction in cardiovascular death of 18% (95% CI: 45% decrease to 23% increase) is outweighed by a more prominent, borderline non-significant increase in the risk of non-cardiovascular death by 38% (95% CI: 1% decrease to 92% increase). Key populations including those with heart failure, those undergoing surgical revascularisation, women, elderly individuals and non-Caucasians are under-represented in completed trials, which limits generalisability. C reactive protein has been proposed as a biomarker for colchicine response and shows promise for identifying a high-risk population where the benefit on MACE reduction and specifically reduced cardiovascular death might outweigh any real increased risk of non-cardiovascular death; however, this approach is still to be validated in ongoing RCTs. In conclusion, while colchicine shows promise in reducing MACE, its net risk-benefit profile requires further elucidation before its widespread adoption into clinical practice for the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Much more large-scale, long-term trial data are still needed in this space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Tucker
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Sanjay Patel
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony Keech
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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24
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Sun X, Qian Y, Cheng W, Ye D, Liu B, Zhou D, Wen C, Andreassen OA, Mao Y. Characterizing the polygenic overlap and shared loci between rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. BMC Med 2024; 22:152. [PMID: 38589871 PMCID: PMC11003061 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03376-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite substantial research revealing that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have excessive morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the mechanism underlying this association has not been fully known. This study aims to systematically investigate the phenotypic and genetic correlation between RA and CVD. METHODS Based on UK Biobank, we conducted two cohort studies to evaluate the phenotypic relationships between RA and CVD, including atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), and stroke. Next, we used linkage disequilibrium score regression, Local Analysis of [co]Variant Association, and bivariate causal mixture model (MiXeR) methods to examine the genetic correlation and polygenic overlap between RA and CVD, using genome-wide association summary statistics. Furthermore, we explored specific shared genetic loci by conjunctional false discovery rate analysis and association analysis based on subsets. RESULTS Compared with the general population, RA patients showed a higher incidence of CVD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.28). We observed positive genetic correlations of RA with AF and stroke, and a mixture of negative and positive local genetic correlations underlying the global genetic correlation for CAD and HF, with 13 ~ 33% of shared genetic variants for these trait pairs. We further identified 23 pleiotropic loci associated with RA and at least one CVD, including one novel locus (rs7098414, TSPAN14, 10q23.1). Genes mapped to these shared loci were enriched in immune and inflammatory-related pathways, and modifiable risk factors, such as high diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the shared genetic architecture of RA and CVD, which may facilitate drug target identification and improved clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Sun
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yu Qian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Weiqiu Cheng
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0407, Norway
| | - Ding Ye
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengping Wen
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0407, Norway.
| | - Yingying Mao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Wang X, Liu M, Nogues IE, Chen T, Xiong X, Bonzel CL, Zhang H, Hong C, Xia Y, Dahal K, Costa L, Cui J, Gaziano JM, Kim SC, Ho YL, Cho K, Cai T, Liao KP. Heterogeneous associations between interleukin-6 receptor variants and phenotypes across ancestries and implications for therapy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8021. [PMID: 38580710 PMCID: PMC10997791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54063-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) is increasingly used to broadly screen for potential treatment effects, e.g., IL6R variant as a proxy for IL6R antagonists. This approach offers an opportunity to address the limited power in clinical trials to study differential treatment effects across patient subgroups. However, limited methods exist to efficiently test for differences across subgroups in the thousands of multiple comparisons generated as part of a PheWAS. In this study, we developed an approach that maximizes the power to test for heterogeneous genotype-phenotype associations and applied this approach to an IL6R PheWAS among individuals of African (AFR) and European (EUR) ancestries. We identified 29 traits with differences in IL6R variant-phenotype associations, including a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in AFR (OR 0.96) vs EUR (OR 1.0, p-value for heterogeneity = 8.5 × 10-3), and higher white blood cell count (p-value for heterogeneity = 8.5 × 10-131). These data suggest a more salutary effect of IL6R blockade for T2D among individuals of AFR vs EUR ancestry and provide data to inform ongoing clinical trials targeting IL6 for an expanding number of conditions. Moreover, the method to test for heterogeneity of associations can be applied broadly to other large-scale genotype-phenotype screens in diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Molei Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Tony Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xin Xiong
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Clara-Lea Bonzel
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harrison Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Chuan Hong
- Department of Biostatistics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yin Xia
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kumar Dahal
- Department of Biostatistics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren Costa
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Cui
- Department of Biostatistics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - J Michael Gaziano
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Aging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seoyoung C Kim
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuk-Lam Ho
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Cho
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Aging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tianxi Cai
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Katherine P Liao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
- Rheumatology Section, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, USA.
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26
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Kalnapenkis A, Jõeloo M, Lepik K, Kukuškina V, Kals M, Alasoo K, Mägi R, Esko T, Võsa U. Genetic determinants of plasma protein levels in the Estonian population. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7694. [PMID: 38565889 PMCID: PMC10987560 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57966-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The proteome holds great potential as an intermediate layer between the genome and phenome. Previous protein quantitative trait locus studies have focused mainly on describing the effects of common genetic variations on the proteome. Here, we assessed the impact of the common and rare genetic variations as well as the copy number variants (CNVs) on 326 plasma proteins measured in up to 500 individuals. We identified 184 cis and 94 trans signals for 157 protein traits, which were further fine-mapped to credible sets for 101 cis and 87 trans signals for 151 proteins. Rare genetic variation contributed to the levels of 7 proteins, with 5 cis and 14 trans associations. CNVs were associated with the levels of 11 proteins (7 cis and 5 trans), examples including a 3q12.1 deletion acting as a hub for multiple trans associations; and a CNV overlapping NAIP, a sensor component of the NAIP-NLRC4 inflammasome which is affecting pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 levels. In summary, this work presents a comprehensive resource of genetic variation affecting the plasma protein levels and provides the interpretation of identified effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anette Kalnapenkis
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Maarja Jõeloo
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaido Lepik
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- University Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Viktorija Kukuškina
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mart Kals
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaur Alasoo
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Reedik Mägi
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tõnu Esko
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Urmo Võsa
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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27
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Woolf B, Perry JA, Hong CC, Wilkins MR, Toshner M, Gill D, Burgess S, Rhodes CJ. Multi-biobank summary data Mendelian randomisation does not support a causal effect of IL-6 signalling on risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Eur Respir J 2024; 63:2302031. [PMID: 38453257 PMCID: PMC10991834 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02031-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-6 has been linked with the pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). IL-6 plasma levels are elevated in PAH patients and closely linked to survival [1]. Both increased IL-6 activity and gene knockout influence the development of, and resistance to, pulmonary hypertension in animal models [2–4]. IL-6 can repress expression of BMPR2, a gene key in PAH risk [5]. In the most comprehensive analysis to date, this study failed to detect an association of genetically predicted CRP-weighted IL-6 signalling or CRP-weighted IL-6R signalling with PAH risk using all available PAH GWAS data https://bit.ly/3T5h5uj
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Woolf
- The MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- The MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James A Perry
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charles C Hong
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Martin R Wilkins
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Toshner
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dipender Gill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- The MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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28
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Vos CG, Fouad F, Dieleman IM, Schuurmann RC, de Vries JPP. Importance of sac regression after EVAR and the role of EndoAnchors. THE JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY 2024; 65:99-105. [PMID: 38551514 DOI: 10.23736/s0021-9509.24.12992-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The initial success and widespread adoption of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms have been tempered by numerous reports of secondary interventions and increased long-term mortality compared with open repair. Over the past decade, several studies on postoperative sac dynamics after EVAR have suggested that the presence of sac regression is a benign feature with a favorable prognosis. Conversely, increasing sacs and even stable sacs can be indicators of more unstable sac behavior with worse outcomes in the long-term. Endoleaks were initially perceived as the main drivers of sac behavior. However, the observation that sac regression can occur in the presence of endoleaks, and vice versa - increasing sacs without evidence of endoleak - on imaging studies, suggests the involvement of other contributing factors. These factors can be divided into anatomical factors, patient characteristics, sac thrombus composition, and device-related factors. The shift of interest away from especially type 2 endoleaks is further supported by promising results with the use of EndoAnchors regarding postoperative sac behavior. This review provides an overview of the existing literature on the implications and known risk factors of post-EVAR sac behavior, describes the accurate measurement of sac behavior, and discusses the use of EndoAnchors to promote sac regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis G Vos
- Department of Surgery, Martini Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Fatima Fouad
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands -
| | - Isabel M Dieleman
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Richte Cl Schuurmann
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Pm de Vries
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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29
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Groenen AG, Matveyenko A, Matienzo N, Halmos B, Zhang H, Westerterp M, Reyes-Soffer G. Apolipoprotein(a) production and clearance are associated with plasma IL-6 and IL-18 levels, dependent on ethnicity. Atherosclerosis 2024; 391:117474. [PMID: 38428286 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS High plasma lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels are associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), in part attributed to elevated inflammation. High plasma Lp(a) levels inversely correlate with apolipoprotein (a) [(APO(a)] isoform size. APO(a) isoform size is negatively associated with APO(a) production rate (PR) and positively associated with APO(a) fractional catabolic rate (FCR). We asked whether APO(a) PR and FCR (kinetics) are associated with plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-18, pro-inflammatory interleukins that promote ASCVD. METHODS We used samples from existing data of APO(a) kinetic studies from an ethnically diverse cohort (n = 25: 10 Black, 9 Hispanic, and 6 White subjects) and assessed IL-6 and IL-18 plasma levels. We performed multivariate linear regression analyses to examine the relationships between predictors APO(a) PR or APO(a) FCR, and outcome variables IL-6 or IL-18. In these analyses, we adjusted for parameters known to affect Lp(a) levels and APO(a) PR and FCR, including race/ethnicity and APO(a) isoform size. RESULTS APO(a) PR and FCR were positively associated with plasma IL-6, independent of isoform size, and dependent on race/ethnicity. APO(a) PR was positively associated with plasma IL-18, independent of isoform size and race/ethnicity. APO(a) FCR was not associated with plasma IL-18. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate a relationship between APO(a) PR and FCR and plasma IL-6 or IL-18, interleukins that promote ASCVD. These studies provide new insights into Lp(a) pro-inflammatory properties and are especially relevant in view of therapies targeting APO(a) to decrease cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk G Groenen
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anastasiya Matveyenko
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nelsa Matienzo
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benedek Halmos
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Cardiology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marit Westerterp
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Gissette Reyes-Soffer
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, New York, NY, USA.
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30
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Yu S, Wang M, Yan M, Wang B, Xu Y. Dynamic changes in inflammatory responses and 3-year clinical outcomes of XINSORB scaffolds in coronary stenting. CARDIOVASCULAR REVASCULARIZATION MEDICINE 2024; 61:70-81. [PMID: 37949719 DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2023.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation is known to play a crucial role in the development of coronary atherosclerosis and vascular healing after stenting. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in inflammatory responses between XINSORB and TIVOLI scaffolds and their correlation with 3-year clinical outcomes. METHOD A total of 140 patients in the XINSORB group and 42 patients in the TIVOLI group were included in this prospective, single-center study, conducted in Shanghai tenth People's Hospital. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 24 h, 6 months, and 12 months after stent implantation to measure high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen (FBG), white blood cell count (WBC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Receiver-operating characteristic curves and proportional hazards models were generated to evaluate the relationship between 24-h postoperative inflammatory indicators and 3-year patient-oriented composite endpoints (POCE). RESULT The levels of hsCRP, FBG, WBC, TNF, and IL-6 reached their peak levels 24 h after stenting and then gradually decreased to levels comparable to baseline at 6 and 12 months. During the 3-year follow-up, 11.4 % of the XINSORB cohort and 9.5 % of the TIVOLI cohort experienced POCE (P = 0.948). High levels of hsCRP and IL-6 24 h after the procedure were associated with clinical endpoints, and the combination of these two biomarkers improved the predictive ability of prognosis. CONCLUSIONS There were no significant differences between the changes in the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers after XINSORB stents or drug-eluting stent implantation. Reduction in postoperative inflammatory levels may decrease the occurrence of clinical outcomes. This study provides insights into the dynamic changes of inflammatory responses and their correlation with clinical outcomes, which could have implications for the management of patients undergoing coronary stenting. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study has been registered on the official website of the China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800014966).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushu Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Putuo District People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingliang Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Putuo District People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiyu Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Putuo District People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yawei Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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31
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Shoaib M, Junaid A, Husnain G, Qadir M, Ghadi YY, Askar SS, Abouhawwash M. Advanced detection of coronary artery disease via deep learning analysis of plasma cytokine data. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1365481. [PMID: 38525188 PMCID: PMC10957635 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1365481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The 2017 World Health Organization Fact Sheet highlights that coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death globally, responsible for approximately 30% of all deaths. In this context, machine learning (ML) technology is crucial in identifying coronary artery disease, thereby saving lives. ML algorithms can potentially analyze complex patterns and correlations within medical data, enabling early detection and accurate diagnosis of CAD. By leveraging ML technology, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions and implement timely interventions, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and potentially reducing the mortality rate associated with coronary artery disease. Machine learning algorithms create non-invasive, quick, accurate, and economical diagnoses. As a result, machine learning algorithms can be employed to supplement existing approaches or as a forerunner to them. This study shows how to use the CNN classifier and RNN based on the LSTM classifier in deep learning to attain targeted "risk" CAD categorization utilizing an evolving set of 450 cytokine biomarkers that could be used as suggestive solid predictive variables for treatment. The two used classifiers are based on these "45" different cytokine prediction characteristics. The best Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC) score achieved is (0.98) for a confidence interval (CI) of 95; the classifier RNN-LSTM used "450" cytokine biomarkers had a great (AUROC) score of 0.99 with a confidence interval of 0.95 the percentage 95, the CNN model containing cytokines received the second best AUROC score (0.92). The RNN-LSTM classifier considerably beats the CNN classifier regarding AUROC scores, as evidenced by a p-value smaller than 7.48 obtained via an independent t-test. As large-scale initiatives to achieve early, rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and accessible individual identification of CAD risk gain traction, robust machine learning algorithms can now augment older methods such as angiography. Incorporating 65 new sensitive cytokine biomarkers can increase early detection even more. Investigating the novel involvement of cytokines in CAD could lead to better risk detection, disease mechanism discovery, and new therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shoaib
- Department of Computer Science, CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Ahmad Junaid
- Department of Computer Science, CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Ghassan Husnain
- Department of Computer Science, CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Mansoor Qadir
- Department of Computer Science, CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | | | - S. S. Askar
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Abouhawwash
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE), College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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32
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Ferreira JP, Vasques-Nóvoa F, Neves JS, Zannad F, Leite-Moreira A. Comparison of interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for cardiovascular risk assessment: Findings from the MESA study. Atherosclerosis 2024; 390:117461. [PMID: 38306764 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Inflammation is a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Elevated levels of both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL6) have been associated with MACE. However, few studies have compared IL6 to hsCRP for cardiovascular risk assessment. Using the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) study cohort, we aim to compare IL6 to hsCRP. METHODS We divided IL6 and hsCRP by their median values and created 4 groups i.e., low-low, high-low, low-high and high-high. The median follow-up was 14 years. RESULTS 6614 (97 %) participants had complete baseline IL6 and hsCRP data. The correlation between hsCRP and IL6 was modest (Rho = 0.53). IL6 ≥1.2 pg/mL (median) was present in 3309 participants, and hsCRP ≥1.9 mg/L (median) was present in 3339 participants. Compared to participants with low IL6 and low hsCRP, those with high IL6 and high hsCRP were older (64 vs. 60 years), more frequently women (63 % vs. 45 %), and with more cardiovascular co-morbidities. hsCRP outcome associations lost statistical significance when adjusting for IL6: MACE HR (95 %CI) 1.06 (0.93-1.20), p =0.39, whereas IL6 associations remained significant after adjusting for hsCRP: HR (95 %CI) 1.44 (1.25-1.64), p <0.001. The C-index of Framingham score for did not improve with hsCRP but improved with IL6. Compared to participants with low IL6 and low hsCRP, those with high IL6, regardless of hsCRP, experienced an increased risk of MACE, heart failure and mortality. CONCLUSIONS In a diverse and asymptomatic population, IL6 showed a stronger association with atherosclerotic, heart failure and fatal outcomes than hsCRP.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Ferreira
- UnIC@RISE, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Centre d'Investigations Cliniques Plurithématique 1433, INSERM, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.
| | - Francisco Vasques-Nóvoa
- UnIC@RISE, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Sérgio Neves
- UnIC@RISE, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Faiez Zannad
- Centre d'Investigations Cliniques Plurithématique 1433, INSERM, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France; F-CRIN INI-CRCT (Cardiovascular and Renal Clinical Trialists), INSERM U1116, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France
| | - Adelino Leite-Moreira
- UnIC@RISE, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Hukerikar N, Hingorani AD, Asselbergs FW, Finan C, Schmidt AF. Prioritising genetic findings for drug target identification and validation. Atherosclerosis 2024; 390:117462. [PMID: 38325120 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The decreasing costs of high-throughput genetic sequencing and increasing abundance of sequenced genome data have paved the way for the use of genetic data in identifying and validating potential drug targets. However, the number of identified potential drug targets is often prohibitively large to experimentally evaluate in wet lab experiments, highlighting the need for systematic approaches for target prioritisation. In this review, we discuss principles of genetically guided drug development, specifically addressing loss-of-function analysis, colocalization and Mendelian randomisation (MR), and the contexts in which each may be most suitable. We subsequently present a range of biomedical resources which can be used to annotate and prioritise disease-associated proteins identified by these studies including 1) ontologies to map genes, proteins, and disease, 2) resources for determining the druggability of a potential target, 3) tissue and cell expression of the gene encoding the potential target, and 4) key biological pathways involving the potential target. We illustrate these concepts through a worked example, identifying a prioritised set of plasma proteins associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We identified five proteins with strong genetic support for involvement with NAFLD: CYB5A, NT5C, NCAN, TGFBI and DAPK2. All of the identified proteins were expressed in both liver and adipose tissues, with TGFBI and DAPK2 being potentially druggable. In conclusion, the current review provides an overview of genetic evidence for drug target identification, and how biomedical databases can be used to provide actionable prioritisation, fully informing downstream experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Hukerikar
- Institute of Health Informatics, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Aroon D Hingorani
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; The National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Folkert W Asselbergs
- Institute of Health Informatics, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical, Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Chris Finan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; The National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Amand F Schmidt
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK; The National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical, Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Prapiadou S, Živković L, Thorand B, George MJ, van der Laan SW, Malik R, Herder C, Koenig W, Ueland T, Kleveland O, Aukrust P, Gullestad L, Bernhagen J, Pasterkamp G, Peters A, Hingorani AD, Rosand J, Dichgans M, Anderson CD, Georgakis MK. Proteogenomic Data Integration Reveals CXCL10 as a Potentially Downstream Causal Mediator for IL-6 Signaling on Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2024; 149:669-683. [PMID: 38152968 PMCID: PMC10922752 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.064974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic and experimental studies support a causal involvement of IL-6 (interleukin-6) signaling in atheroprogression. Although trials targeting IL-6 signaling are underway, any benefits must be balanced against an impaired host immune response. Dissecting the mechanisms that mediate the effects of IL-6 signaling on atherosclerosis could offer insights about novel drug targets with more specific effects. METHODS Leveraging data from 522 681 individuals, we constructed a genetic instrument of 26 variants in the gene encoding the IL-6R (IL-6 receptor) that proxied for pharmacological IL-6R inhibition. Using Mendelian randomization, we assessed its effects on 3281 plasma proteins quantified with an aptamer-based assay in the INTERVAL cohort (n=3301). Using mediation Mendelian randomization, we explored proteomic mediators of the effects of genetically proxied IL-6 signaling on coronary artery disease, large artery atherosclerotic stroke, and peripheral artery disease. For significant mediators, we tested associations of their circulating levels with incident cardiovascular events in a population-based study (n=1704) and explored the histological, transcriptomic, and cellular phenotypes correlated with their expression levels in samples from human atherosclerotic lesions. RESULTS We found significant effects of genetically proxied IL-6 signaling on 70 circulating proteins involved in cytokine production/regulation and immune cell recruitment/differentiation, which correlated with the proteomic effects of pharmacological IL-6R inhibition in a clinical trial. Among the 70 significant proteins, genetically proxied circulating levels of CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) were associated with risk of coronary artery disease, large artery atherosclerotic stroke, and peripheral artery disease, with up to 67% of the effects of genetically downregulated IL-6 signaling on these end points mediated by decreases in CXCL10. Higher midlife circulating CXCL10 levels were associated with a larger number of cardiovascular events over 20 years, whereas higher CXCL10 expression in human atherosclerotic lesions correlated with a larger lipid core and a transcriptomic profile reflecting immune cell infiltration, adaptive immune system activation, and cytokine signaling. CONCLUSIONS Integrating multiomics data, we found a proteomic signature of IL-6 signaling activation and mediators of its effects on cardiovascular disease. Our analyses suggest the interferon-γ-inducible chemokine CXCL10 to be a potentially causal mediator for atherosclerosis in 3 vascular compartments and, as such, could serve as a promising drug target for atheroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savvina Prapiadou
- University of Patras School of Medicine, Patras, Greece
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luka Živković
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Thorand
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marc J. George
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sander W. van der Laan
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rainer Malik
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Herder
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Düsseldorf, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Koenig
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- German Heart Center Munich, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thor Ueland
- Thrombosis Research Center (TREC), Division of internal medicine, University hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ola Kleveland
- Clinic of Cardiology, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pål Aukrust
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Gullestad
- Department of Cardiology Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Heart Alliance, German Center for Cardiovascular Health (DZHK e.V., partner-site Munich), Munich, Germany
| | - Aroon D. Hingorani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Translational Genomics, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Rosand
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Munich), Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher D. Anderson
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marios K. Georgakis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Liu D, Billington CJ, Raja N, Wong ZC, Levin MD, Resch W, Alba C, Hupalo DN, Biamino E, Bedeschi MF, Digilio MC, Squeo GM, Villa R, Parrish PCR, Knutsen RH, Osgood S, Freeman JA, Dalgard CL, Merla G, Pober BR, Mervis CB, Roberts AE, Morris CA, Osborne LR, Kozel BA. Matrisome and Immune Pathways Contribute to Extreme Vascular Outcomes in Williams-Beuren Syndrome. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e031377. [PMID: 38293922 PMCID: PMC11056152 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS) is a characteristic feature of Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). Its severity varies: ~20% of people with Williams-Beuren syndrome have SVAS requiring surgical intervention, whereas ~35% have no appreciable SVAS. The remaining individuals have SVAS of intermediate severity. Little is known about genetic modifiers that contribute to this variability. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed genome sequencing on 473 individuals with Williams-Beuren syndrome and developed strategies for modifier discovery in this rare disease population. Approaches include extreme phenotyping and nonsynonymous variant prioritization, followed by gene set enrichment and pathway-level association tests. We next used GTEx v8 and proteomic data sets to verify expression of candidate modifiers in relevant tissues. Finally, we evaluated overlap between the genes/pathways identified here and those ascertained through larger aortic disease/trait genome-wide association studies. We show that SVAS severity in Williams-Beuren syndrome is associated with increased frequency of common and rarer variants in matrisome and immune pathways. Two implicated matrisome genes (ACAN and LTBP4) were uniquely expressed in the aorta. Many genes in the identified pathways were previously reported in genome-wide association studies for aneurysm, bicuspid aortic valve, or aortic size. CONCLUSIONS Smaller sample sizes in rare disease studies necessitate new approaches to detect modifiers. Our strategies identified variation in matrisome and immune pathways that are associated with SVAS severity. These findings suggest that, like other aortopathies, SVAS may be influenced by the balance of synthesis and degradation of matrisome proteins. Leveraging multiomic data and results from larger aorta-focused genome-wide association studies may accelerate modifier discovery for rare aortopathies like SVAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Liu
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Charles J. Billington
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMN
| | - Neelam Raja
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Zoe C. Wong
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Mark D. Levin
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Wulfgang Resch
- The High Performance Computing FacilityCenter for Information Technology, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Camille Alba
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineBethesdaMD
| | - Daniel N. Hupalo
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineBethesdaMD
| | | | | | | | - Gabriella Maria Squeo
- Laboratory of Regulatory and Functional GenomicsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia)Italy
| | - Roberta Villa
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Medical Genetic UnitMilanItaly
| | - Pheobe C. R. Parrish
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
- Department of Genome SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA
| | - Russell H. Knutsen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Sharon Osgood
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Joy A. Freeman
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Clifton L. Dalgard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, School of Medicinethe Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesdaMD
| | - Giuseppe Merla
- Laboratory of Regulatory and Functional GenomicsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia)Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical BiotechnologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Barbara R. Pober
- Section of Genetics, Department of PediatricsMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMA
| | - Carolyn B. Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY
| | - Amy E. Roberts
- Department of Cardiology and Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of PediatricsBoston Children’s HospitalBostonMA
| | - Colleen A. Morris
- Department of PediatricsKirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLVLas VegasNV
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoCanada
| | - Beth A. Kozel
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
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Iakunchykova O, Leonardsen EH, Wang Y. Genetic evidence for causal effects of immune dysfunction in psychiatric disorders: where are we? Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:63. [PMID: 38272880 PMCID: PMC10810856 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02778-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The question of whether immune dysfunction contributes to risk of psychiatric disorders has long been a subject of interest. To assert this hypothesis a plethora of correlative evidence has been accumulated from the past decades; however, a variety of technical and practical obstacles impeded on a cause-effect interpretation of these data. With the advent of large-scale omics technology and advanced statistical models, particularly Mendelian randomization, new studies testing this old hypothesis are accruing. Here we synthesize these new findings from genomics and genetic causal inference studies on the role of immune dysfunction in major psychiatric disorders and reconcile these new data with pre-omics findings. By reconciling these evidences, we aim to identify key gaps and propose directions for future studies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Iakunchykova
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Esten H Leonardsen
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
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Wang L, Lu Y, Li D, Zhou Y, Yu L, Mesa Eguiagaray I, Campbell H, Li X, Theodoratou E. The landscape of the methodology in drug repurposing using human genomic data: a systematic review. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbad527. [PMID: 38279645 PMCID: PMC10818097 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of drug development is expensive and time-consuming. In contrast, drug repurposing can be introduced to clinical practice more quickly and at a reduced cost. Over the last decade, there has been a significant expansion of large biobanks that link genomic data to electronic health record data, public availability of various databases containing biological and clinical information and rapid development of novel methodologies and algorithms in integrating different sources of data. This review aims to provide a thorough summary of different strategies that utilize genomic data to seek drug-repositioning opportunities. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify eligible studies up until 1 May 2023, with a total of 102 studies finally included after two-step parallel screening. We summarized commonly used strategies for drug repurposing, including Mendelian randomization, multi-omic-based and network-based studies and illustrated each strategy with examples, as well as the data sources implemented. By leveraging existing knowledge and infrastructure to expedite the drug discovery process and reduce costs, drug repurposing potentially identifies new therapeutic uses for approved drugs in a more efficient and targeted manner. However, technical challenges when integrating different types of data and biased or incomplete understanding of drug interactions are important hindrances that cannot be disregarded in the pursuit of identifying novel therapeutic applications. This review offers an overview of drug repurposing methodologies, providing valuable insights and guiding future directions for advancing drug repurposing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Wang
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Lu
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Doudou Li
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yajing Zhou
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lili Yu
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ines Mesa Eguiagaray
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Harry Campbell
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xue Li
- School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Evropi Theodoratou
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Edinburgh, UK
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38
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Wang Y, Yi K, Chen B, Zhang B, Jidong G. Elucidating the susceptibility to breast cancer: an in-depth proteomic and transcriptomic investigation into novel potential plasma protein biomarkers. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1340917. [PMID: 38304232 PMCID: PMC10833003 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1340917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to identify plasma proteins that are associated with and causative of breast cancer through Proteome and Transcriptome-wide association studies combining Mendelian Randomization. Methods: Utilizing high-throughput datasets, we designed a two-phase analytical framework aimed at identifying novel plasma proteins that are both associated with and causative of breast cancer. Initially, we conducted Proteome/Transcriptome-wide association studies (P/TWAS) to identify plasma proteins with significant associations. Subsequently, Mendelian Randomization was employed to ascertain the causation. The validity and robustness of our findings were further reinforced through external validation and various sensitivity analyses, including Bayesian colocalization, Steiger filtering, heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Additionally, we performed functional enrichment analysis of the identified proteins to better understand their roles in breast cancer and to assess their potential as druggable targets. Results: We identified 5 plasma proteins demonstrating strong associations and causative links with breast cancer. Specifically, PEX14 (OR = 1.201, p = 0.016) and CTSF (OR = 1.114, p < 0.001) both displayed positive and causal association with breast cancer. In contrast, SNUPN (OR = 0.905, p < 0.001), CSK (OR = 0.962, p = 0.038), and PARK7 (OR = 0.954, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with the disease. For the ER-positive subtype, 3 plasma proteins were identified, with CSK and CTSF exhibiting consistent trends, while GDI2 (OR = 0.920, p < 0.001) was distinct to this subtype. In ER-negative subtype, PEX14 (OR = 1.645, p < 0.001) stood out as the sole protein, even showing a stronger causal effect compared to breast cancer. These associations were robustly supported by colocalization and sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: Integrating multiple data dimensions, our study successfully pinpointed plasma proteins significantly associated with and causative of breast cancer, offering valuable insights for future research and potential new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Yi
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Baoyue Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Puren Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bailin Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Gao Jidong
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract
Importance Mendelian randomization (MR) is a statistical approach that has become increasingly popular in the field of cardiovascular disease research. It offers a way to infer potentially causal relationships between risk factors and outcomes using observational data, which is particularly important in cases where randomized clinical trials are not feasible or ethical. With the growing availability of large genetic data sets, MR has become a powerful and accessible tool for studying the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Observations MR uses genetic variation associated with modifiable exposures or risk factors to mitigate biases that affect traditional observational study designs. The approach uses genetic variants that are randomly assigned at conception as proxies for exposure to a risk factor, mimicking a randomized clinical trial. By comparing the outcomes of individuals with different genetic variants, researchers may draw causal inferences about the effects of specific risk factors on cardiovascular disease, provided assumptions are met that address (1) the association between each genetic variant and risk factor and (2) the association of the genetic variants with confounders and (3) that the association between each genetic variant and the outcome only occurs through the risk factor. Like other observational designs, MR has limitations, which include weak instruments that are not strongly associated with the exposure of interest, linkage disequilibrium where genetic instruments influence the outcome via correlated rather than direct effects, overestimated genetic associations, and selection and survival biases. In addition, many genetic databases and MR studies primarily include populations genetically similar to European reference populations; improved diversity of participants in these databases and studies is critically needed. Conclusions and Relevance This review provides an overview of MR methodology, including assumptions, strengths, and limitations. Several important applications of MR in cardiovascular disease research are highlighted, including the identification of drug targets, evaluation of potential cardiovascular risk factors, as well as emerging methodology. Overall, while MR alone can never prove a causal relationship beyond reasonable doubt, MR offers a rigorous approach for investigating possible causal relationships in observational data and has the potential to transform our understanding of the etiology and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Levin
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen Burgess
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Ebrat E, Hejazian SM, Ahmadian E, Vahed SZ, Mobasseri M, Ardalan M. The Possible Association of IL-6R Gene Polymorphisms in the Development of Diabetic Nephropathy. Curr Diabetes Rev 2024; 20:55-59. [PMID: 37855360 DOI: 10.2174/0115733998245369231009111221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Chronic inflammation and a combination of environmental and genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis and development of DN. OBJECTIVE This case-control study aimed to determine the relationship between rs7529229 and rs2228145 polymorphisms of the IL-6R gene with the incidence of nephropathy among T2D patients. METHODS Fifty-six diabetic patients with nephropathy and 57 T2D patients without nephropathy were included based on inclusion criteria, along with 150 healthy individuals. RESULTS The frequencies of AC and CC genotype distributions of the rs2228145 polymorphism in DN patients were significantly higher than in healthy individuals (24.1 and 9.3% versus 10.7 and 6.7%, respectively, P= 0.02). Moreover, the frequency of allele C was higher in DN patients compared to healthy controls (21.30% versus 12%, P=0.025). However, genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the rs7529229 IL-6R polymorphism in DN patients were not statistically significant in comparison with diabetic patients and healthy individuals (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION The results showed that the allele and genotype distribution frequencies of rs2228145 IL-6R gene polymorphism in patients with DN were significantly higher than in healthy individuals. Therefore, the presence of this polymorphism may be involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim Ebrat
- Kidney Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyyedeh Mina Hejazian
- Kidney Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elham Ahmadian
- Kidney Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Zununi Vahed
- Kidney Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Mobasseri
- Endocrine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Ardalan
- Kidney Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Burgess S, Cronjé HT. Incorporating biological and clinical insights into variant choice for Mendelian randomisation: examples and principles. EGASTROENTEROLOGY 2024; 2:e100042. [PMID: 38362310 PMCID: PMC7615644 DOI: 10.1136/egastro-2023-100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Mendelian randomisation is an accessible and valuable epidemiological approach to provide insight into the causal nature of relationships between risk factor exposures and disease outcomes. However, if performed without critical thought, we may simply have replaced one set of implausible assumptions (no unmeasured confounding or reverse causation) with another set of implausible assumptions (no pleiotropy or other instrument invalidity). The most critical decision to avoid pleiotropy is which genetic variants to use as instrumental variables. Two broad strategies for instrument selection are a biologically motivated strategy and a genome-wide strategy; in general, a biologically motivated strategy is preferred. In this review, we discuss various ways of implementing a biologically motivated selection strategy: using variants in a coding gene region for the exposure or a gene region that encodes a regulator of exposure levels, using a positive control variable and using a biomarker as the exposure rather than its behavioural proxy. In some cases, a genome-wide analysis can provide important complementary evidence, even when its reliability is questionable. In other cases, a biologically-motivated analysis may not be possible. The choice of genetic variants must be informed by biological and functional considerations where possible, requiring collaboration to combine biological and clinical insights with appropriate statistical methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Burgess
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Héléne Toinét Cronjé
- Health Analytics, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, London, UK
- Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark
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Zhang L, Wang F, Xia K, Yu Z, Fu Y, Huang T, Fan D. Unlocking the Medicinal Mysteries: Preventing Lacunar Stroke with Drug Repurposing. Biomedicines 2023; 12:17. [PMID: 38275377 PMCID: PMC10813761 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, only the general control of the risk factors is known to prevent lacunar cerebral infarction, but it is unknown which type of medication for controlling the risk factors has a causal relationship with reducing the risk of lacunar infarction. To unlock this medical mystery, drug-target Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to estimate the effect of common antihypertensive agents, hypolipidemic agents, and hypoglycemic agents on lacunar stroke. Lacunar stroke data for the transethnic analysis were derived from meta-analyses comprising 7338 cases and 254,798 controls. We have confirmed that genetic variants mimicking calcium channel blockers were found to most stably prevent lacunar stroke. The genetic variants at or near HMGCR, NPC1L1, and APOC3 were predicted to decrease lacunar stroke incidence in drug-target MR analysis. These variants mimic the effects of statins, ezetimibe, and antisense anti-apoC3 agents, respectively. Genetically proxied GLP1R agonism had a marginal effect on lacunar stroke, while a genetically proxied improvement in overall glycemic control was associated with reduced lacunar stroke risk. Here, we show that certain categories of drugs currently used in clinical practice can more effectively reduce the risk of stroke. Repurposing several drugs with well-established safety and low costs for lacunar stroke prevention should be given high priority when doctors are making decisions in clinical practice. This may contribute to healthier brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
| | - Kailin Xia
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
| | - Zhou Yu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yu Fu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Center for Intelligent Public Health, Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; (L.Z.); (F.W.); (K.X.); (Z.Y.); (Y.F.)
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Larsson SC, Butterworth AS, Burgess S. Mendelian randomization for cardiovascular diseases: principles and applications. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:4913-4924. [PMID: 37935836 PMCID: PMC10719501 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale genome-wide association studies conducted over the last decade have uncovered numerous genetic variants associated with cardiometabolic traits and risk factors. These discoveries have enabled the Mendelian randomization (MR) design, which uses genetic variation as a natural experiment to improve causal inferences from observational data. By analogy with the random assignment of treatment in randomized controlled trials, the random segregation of genetic alleles when DNA is transmitted from parents to offspring at gamete formation is expected to reduce confounding in genetic associations. Mendelian randomization analyses make a set of assumptions that must hold for valid results. Provided that the assumptions are well justified for the genetic variants that are employed as instrumental variables, MR studies can inform on whether a putative risk factor likely has a causal effect on the disease or not. Mendelian randomization has been increasingly applied over recent years to predict the efficacy and safety of existing and novel drugs targeting cardiovascular risk factors and to explore the repurposing potential of available drugs. This review article describes the principles of the MR design and some applications in cardiovascular epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna C Larsson
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adam S Butterworth
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Hinxton, UK
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Luo J, Thomassen JQ, Nordestgaard BG, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Frikke-Schmidt R. Neutrophil counts and cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:4953-4964. [PMID: 37950632 PMCID: PMC10719495 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Anti-inflammatory trials have shown considerable benefits for cardiovascular disease. High neutrophil counts, an easily accessible inflammation biomarker, are associated with atherosclerosis in experimental studies. This study aimed to investigate the associations between neutrophil counts and risk of nine cardiovascular endpoints using observational and genetic approaches. METHODS Observational studies were conducted in the Copenhagen General Population Study (n = 101 730). Genetic studies were firstly performed using one-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with individual-level data from the UK Biobank (n = 365 913); secondly, two-sample MR analyses were performed using summary-level data from the Blood Cell Consortium (n = 563 085). Outcomes included ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic stroke, vascular-related dementia, vascular dementia, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. RESULTS Observational analyses showed associations between high neutrophil counts with high risks of all outcomes. In the UK Biobank, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) per 1-SD higher genetically predicted neutrophil counts were 1.15 (1.08, 1.21) for ischaemic heart disease, 1.22 (1.12, 1.34) for myocardial infarction, and 1.19 (1.04, 1.36) for peripheral arterial disease; similar results were observed in men and women separately. In two-sample MR, corresponding estimates were 1.14 (1.05, 1.23) for ischaemic heart disease and 1.11 (1.02, 1.20) for myocardial infarction; multiple sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. No robust associations in two-sample MR analyses were found for other types of leucocytes. CONCLUSIONS Observational and genetically determined high neutrophil counts were associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, supporting that high blood neutrophil counts is a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Luo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Qvist Thomassen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Børge G Nordestgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- The Copenhagen General Population Study, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Tybjærg-Hansen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Copenhagen General Population Study, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ruth Frikke-Schmidt
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Copenhagen General Population Study, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Zhang B, Wan H, Liu X, Yu T, Yang Y, Dai Y, Han Y, Xu K, Yang L, Wang Y, Zhang X. Engineering Immunomodulatory Stents Using Zinc Ion-Lysozyme Nanoparticle Platform for Vascular Remodeling. ACS NANO 2023; 17:23498-23511. [PMID: 37971533 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Rapid endothelialization of cardiovascular materials can enhance the vascular remodeling performance. In this work, we developed a strategy for amyloid-like protein-assembly-mediated interfacial engineering to functionalize a biomimetic nanoparticle coating (BMC). Various groups (e.g., hydroxyl and carboxyl) on the BMC are responsible for chelating Zn2+ ions at the stent interface, similar to the glutathione peroxidase-like enzymes found in vivo. This design could reproduce the release of therapeutic nitric oxide gas (NO) and an aligned microenvironment nearly identical with that of natural vessels. In a rabbit abdominal aorta model, BMC-coated stents promoted vascular healing through rapid endothelialization and the inhibition of intimal hyperplasia in the placement sites at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Additionally, better anticoagulant activity and immunomodulation in the BMC stents were also confirmed, and vascular healing was mainly dependent on cell signaling through the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G (cGMP-PKG) cascade. Overall, a metal-polypeptide-coated stent was developed on the basis of its detailed molecular mechanism of action in vascular remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Huining Wan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Xiyu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Tao Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Sichuan Xingtai Pule Medical Technology Co Ltd, Chengdu, Sichuan 610045, China
| | - Yan Dai
- Sichuan Xingtai Pule Medical Technology Co Ltd, Chengdu, Sichuan 610045, China
| | - Yaling Han
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Wenhua Road 83, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Wenhua Road 83, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Li Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yunbing Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Xingdong Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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El-Husseini ZW, Khalenkow D, Lan A, van der Molen T, Brightling C, Papi A, Rabe KF, Siddiqui S, Singh D, Kraft M, Beghe B, van den Berge M, van Gosliga D, Nawijn MC, Rose-John S, Koppelman GH, Gosens R. An epithelial gene signature of trans-IL-6 signaling defines a subgroup of type 2-low asthma. Respir Res 2023; 24:308. [PMID: 38062491 PMCID: PMC10704725 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02617-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is stratified into type 2-high and type 2-low inflammatory phenotypes. Limited success has been achieved in developing drugs that target type 2-low inflammation. Previous studies have linked IL-6 signaling to severe asthma. IL-6 cooperates with soluble-IL-6Rα to activate cell signaling in airway epithelium. OBJECTIVE We sought to study the role of sIL-6Rα amplified IL-6 signaling in airway epithelium and to develop an IL-6+ sIL-6Rα gene signature that may be used to select asthma patients who potentially respond to anti-IL-6 therapy. METHODS Human airway epithelial cells were stimulated with combinations of IL-6, sIL-6Rα, and inhibitors, sgp130 (Olamkicept), and anti-IL-6R (Tocilizumab), to assess effects on pathway activation, epithelial barrier integrity, and gene expression. A gene signature was generated to identify IL-6 high patients using bronchial biopsies and nasal brushes. RESULTS Soluble-IL-6Rα amplified the activation of the IL-6 pathway, shown by the increase of STAT3 phosphorylation and stronger gene induction in airway epithelial cells compared to IL-6 alone. Olamkicept and Tocilizumab inhibited the effect of IL-6 + sIL-6Rα on gene expression. We developed an IL-6 + sIL-6Rα gene signature and observed enrichment of this signature in bronchial biopsies but not nasal brushes from asthma patients compared to healthy controls. An IL-6 + sIL-6Rα gene signature score was associated with lower levels of sputum eosinophils in asthma. CONCLUSION sIL-6Rα amplifies IL-6 signaling in bronchial epithelial cells. Higher local airway IL-6 + sIL-6Rα signaling is observed in asthma patients with low sputum eosinophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid W El-Husseini
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dmitry Khalenkow
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andy Lan
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thys van der Molen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Brightling
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Alberto Papi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Klaus F Rabe
- Department of Medicine, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel and Lungen Clinic Grosshansdorf (Members of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)), Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Salman Siddiqui
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College and Imperial NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Dave Singh
- Medicines Evaluation Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Hospital Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Monica Kraft
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Bianca Beghe
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, AOU of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Maarten van den Berge
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Djoke van Gosliga
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Experimental Pulmonary and Inflammatory Research (EXPIRE), University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn C Nawijn
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Experimental Pulmonary and Inflammatory Research (EXPIRE), University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gerard H Koppelman
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Reinoud Gosens
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Bekkevold OJ, Damås JK, Brumpton BM, Åsvold BO. The causal role of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 on anxiety and depression symptoms and life satisfaction: Mendelian randomisation analyses in the HUNT study. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7561-7568. [PMID: 37217205 PMCID: PMC10755231 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with anxiety and depression in cross-sectional and Mendelian randomisation studies, but results regarding the effect size and direction have been mixed. A recent Mendelian Randomisation (MR) study suggested that CRP may decrease and IL-6 may increase anxiety and depression symptoms. METHODS Among 68 769 participants of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), we performed cross-sectional observational and one-sample MR analyses of serum CRP and two-sample MR analysis of serum IL-6. The main outcomes were symptoms of anxiety and depression assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and life satisfaction assessed using a seven-level ordinal questionnaire where higher scores indicate lower life satisfaction. RESULTS In cross-sectional observational analyses, a doubling in serum CRP level was associated with 0.27% (95% CI -0.20 to 0.75) difference in HADS depression score (HADS-D), -0.77% (95% CI -1.24 to -0.29) difference in HADS anxiety score (HADS-A) and -0.10% (95% CI -0.41 to 0.21) difference in life satisfaction score. In one-sample MR analyses, a doubling in serum CRP was associated with 2.43% (95% CI -0.11 to 5.03) higher HADS-D, 1.94% (95% CI -0.58 to 4.52) higher HADS-A, and 2.00% (95% CI 0.45 to 3.59) higher life satisfaction score. For IL-6, causal point estimates were in the opposite direction, but imprecise and far from conventional criteria for statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support a major causal role of serum CRP on anxiety and depression symptoms and life satisfaction, but provides weak evidence that serum CRP may modestly increase anxiety and depression symptoms and reduce life satisfaction. Our findings do not support the recent suggestion that serum CRP may lower anxiety and depression symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole-Jørgen Bekkevold
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jan Kristian Damås
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ben Michael Brumpton
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn Olav Åsvold
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Department of Endocrinology, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Tian J, Zhang R, Zhu N, Gu L, Guo Y, Yuan W. Association of serum thymosin β4 with malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome in peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study. Ren Fail 2023; 45:2202761. [PMID: 37133832 PMCID: PMC10158543 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2023.2202761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome may worsen the prognosis of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Serum thymosin β4 (sTβ4) protects against inflammation, fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to characterize the association between sTβ4 and MIA syndrome as well as to investigate the potential of regulating sTβ4 to improve the prognosis of PD patients. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional, single-center pilot study involving 76 PD patients. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, nutritional profiles, inflammatory mediators, atherosclerosis-related factors and sTβ4 levels were collected and subjected to association analysis for sTβ4 and MIA syndrome. RESULTS sTβ4 levels did not significantly vary with sex or primary disease in PD patients. Ages and PD features did not vary between patients with different levels of sTβ4. PD patients with higher levels of sTβ4 had significantly higher levels of nutritional indicators, including subjective global nutritional assessment (SGA) (p < 0.001) and serum albumin (ALB) (p < 0.001) but lower levels of inflammatory and atherosclerotic indicators, including serum C reaction protein (CRP) (p = 0.009), the right common carotid artery (RCCA) intimal thickness (p < 0.001) and the left common carotid artery (LCCA) intimal thickness (p = 0.02). Correlation analysis showed that sTβ4 was positively associated with SGA (p < 0.001) and serum ALB (p < 0.001) but negatively associated with CRP (p = 0.020), RCCA intimal thickness (p < 0.001) and LCCA intimal thickness (p = 0.033). In multiple adjusted models, the prevalence of MIA syndrome was significantly decreased in PD patients with increased levels of sTβ4 when patients without MIA syndrome were compared to those with all indicators of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.996, 95% CI 0.993-0.999, p = 0.003) or those with at least one indicator of MIA syndrome (OR = 0.997, 95% CI 0.995-0.998, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The sTβ4 level decreases in PD patients with MIA syndrome. The prevalence of MIA syndrome decreases significantly as the level of sTβ4 increases in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakun Tian
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Gu
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunshan Guo
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijie Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Su R, Zhuang J, Liu S, Liu D, Feng K. EnILs: A General Ensemble Computational Approach for Predicting Inducing Peptides of Multiple Interleukins. J Comput Biol 2023; 30:1289-1304. [PMID: 38010531 DOI: 10.1089/cmb.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukins (ILs) are a group of multifunctional cytokines, which play important roles in immune regulations and inflammatory responses. Recently, IL-6 has been found to affect the development of COVID-19, and significantly elevated levels of IL-6 cytokines have been reported in patients with severe COVID-19. IL-10 and IL-17 are anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines, respectively, which play multiple protective roles in host defense against pathogens. At present, a number of machine learning methods have been proposed to predict ILs inducing peptides, but their predictive performance needs to be further improved, and the inducing peptides of different ILs are predicted separately, rather than using a general approach. In our work, we combine the statistical features of peptide sequence with word embedding to design a general ensemble model named EnILs to predict inducing peptides of different ILs, in which the predictive probabilities of random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting and neural network are integrated in an average way. Compared with the state-of-the-art machine learning methods, EnILs shows considerable performance in the prediction of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 inducing peptides. In addition, we predict the most promising IL-6 inducing peptides in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 spike protein in the case study for further experimental verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Su
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jujuan Zhuang
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Di Liu
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Information Science and Technology College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Kexin Feng
- Department of Statistics, School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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Koenig W, Sager HB. Inflammation and cardiovascular disease: new epidemiologic data and their potential implications for anti-cytokine therapy. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2023; 30:1728-1730. [PMID: 37494726 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Koenig
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstr, 36, 80636 Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Pettenkoferstr. 8a &9, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Hendrik B Sager
- Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstr, 36, 80636 Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Pettenkoferstr. 8a &9, 80336 Munich, Germany
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