Targeted proteomic analysis of habitual coffee consumption

Milk intake, lactase persistence genotype, plasma proteins and risks of cardiovascular events in the Swedish general population

To investigate the associations of milk intake (non-fermented and fermented milk), lactase persistence (LCT-13910 C/T) genotype (a proxy for long-term non-fermented milk intake), and gene-milk interaction with risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD mortality. Also, to identify the CVD-related plasma proteins and lipoprotein subfractions associated with milk intake and LCT-13910 C/T genotype. The prospective cohort study included 20,499 participants who were followed up for a mean of 21 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a modified diet history method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, higher non-fermented milk intake was significantly associated with higher risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CVD mortality, whereas higher fermented milk intake was significantly associated with lower risks of CVD and CVD mortality. The genotype associated with higher milk (mainly non-fermented) intake was positively associated with CHD (CT/TT vs. CC HR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.55) and CVD (HR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.42). The association between rs4988235 genotype and CVD mortality was stronger in participants with higher milk intake than among participants with lower intake (P for interaction < 0.05). Furthermore, leptin, HDL, and large HDL were associated with non-fermented milk intake, while no plasma proteins or lipoprotein subfractions associated with fermented milk intake and LCT-13910 C/T genotype were identified. In conclusion, non-fermented milk intake was associated with higher risks of CHD and CVD mortality, as well as leptin and HDL, whereas fermented milk intake was associated with lower risks of CVD and CVD mortality.

From 'Omics to Multi-omics Technologies: the Discovery of Novel Causal Mediators

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

'Omics studies provide a comprehensive characterisation of a biological entity, such as the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, or microbiome. This review covers the unique properties of these types of 'omics and their roles as causal mediators in cardiovascular disease. Moreover, applications and challenges of integrating multiple types of 'omics data to increase predictive power, improve causal inference, and elucidate biological mechanisms are discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multi-omics approaches are growing in adoption as they provide orthogonal evidence and overcome the limitations of individual types of 'omics data. Studies with multiple types of 'omics data have improved the diagnosis and prediction of disease states and afforded a deeper understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, beyond any single type of 'omics data. For instance, disease-associated loci in the genome can be supplemented with other 'omics to prioritise causal genes and understand the function of non-coding variants. Alternatively, techniques, such as Mendelian randomisation, can leverage genetics to provide evidence supporting a causal role for disease-associated molecules, and elucidate their role in disease pathogenesis. As technologies improve, costs for 'omics studies will continue to fall and datasets will become increasingly accessible to researchers. The intrinsically unbiased nature of 'omics data is well-suited to exploratory analyses that discover causal mediators of disease, and multi-omics is an emerging discipline that leverages the strengths of each type of 'omics data to provide insights greater than the sum of its parts.

Physiology, pathology and the biomolecular corona: the confounding factors in nanomedicine design

The biomolecular corona that forms on nanomedicines in different physiological and pathological environments confers a new biological identity. How the recipient biological system's state can potentially affect nanomedicine corona formation, and how this can be modulated, remains obscure. With this perspective, this review summarizes the current knowledge about the content of biological fluids in various compartments and how they can be affected by pathological states, thus impacting biomolecular corona formation. The content of representative biological fluids is explored, and the urgency of integrating corona formation, as an essential component of nanomedicine designs for effective cargo delivery, is highlighted.

The associations of self-rated health with cardiovascular risk proteins: a proteomics approach

Background

Though subjective, poor self-rated health (SRH) has consistently been shown to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD). The underlying mechanism is unclear. This study evaluates the associations of SRH with biomarkers for CVD, aiming to explore potential pathways between poor SRH and CVD.

Methods

Based on the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cardiovascular Cohort study, a targeted proteomics approach was used to assess the associations of SRH with 88 cardiovascular risk proteins, measured in plasma from 4521 participants without CVD. The false discovery rate (FDR) was controlled using the Benjamini and Hochberg method. Covariates taken into consideration were age, sex, traditional CVD risk factors (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medication, diabetes, body mass index, smoking), comorbidity, life-style and psycho-social factors (education level, living alone, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, psychiatric medication, sleep duration, and unemployment).

Results

Age and sex-adjusted associations with SRH was found for 34 plasma proteins. Nine of them remained significant after adjustments for traditional CVD risk factors. After further adjustment for comorbidity, life-style and psycho-social factors, only leptin (β = − 0.035, corrected p = 0.016) and C–C motif chemokine 20 (CCL20; β = − 0.054, corrected p = 0.016) were significantly associated with SRH.

Conclusions

Poor SRH was associated with raised concentrations of many plasma proteins. However, the relationships were largely attenuated by adjustments for CVD risk factors, comorbidity and psycho-social factors. Leptin and CCL20 were associated with poor SRH in the present study and could potentially be involved in the SRH–CVD link.

Associations of Circulating Protein Levels With Lipid Fractions in the General Population

Objective- Revealing patterns of associations between circulating protein and lipid levels could improve biological understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, we investigated the associations between proteins related to CVD and triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in individuals from the general population. Approach and Results- We measured plasma protein levels using the Olink ProSeek CVD I or II+III arrays and analyzed 57 proteins available in 3 population-based cohorts: EpiHealth (n=2029; 52% women; median age, 61 years), PIVUS (Prospective Study of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors; n=790; 51% women; all aged 70 years), and ULSAM (Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men; n=551; all men aged 77 years). A discovery analysis was performed in EpiHealth in a regression framework (adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, smoking, glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, diabetes mellitus medication, and CVD history), and associations with false discovery rate <0.05 were further tested in PIVUS and ULSAM, where a P value of 0.05 was considered a successful replication (validation false discovery rate of 0.1%). We used summary statistics from a genome-wide association study on each protein biomarker (meta-analysis of EpiHealth, PIVUS, ULSAM, and IMPROVE [Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and IMT-Progression as Predictors of Vascular Events in a High-Risk European Population]) and publicly available data from Global Lipids Genetics Consortium to perform Mendelian randomization analyses to address possible causality of protein levels. Of 57 tested proteins, 42 demonstrated an association with at least 1 lipid fraction; 35 were associated with TG, 15 with total cholesterol, 9 with LDL cholesterol, and 24 with HDL cholesterol. Among these associations, we found KIM-1 (kidney injury molecule-1), TNFR (TNF [tumor necrosis factor] receptor) 1 and 2, TRAIL-R2 (TRAIL [TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand] receptor 2), and RETN (resistin) to be associated with all 4 lipid fractions. Further, 15 proteins were related to both TG and HDL cholesterol in a consistent and biologically expected manner, that is, higher TG and lower HDL cholesterol or vice versa. Another common pattern of associations was concomitantly higher TG, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, which is associated with higher CVD risk. We did not find evidence of causal links for protein levels. Conclusions- Our comprehensive analysis of plasma proteins and lipid fractions of 3370 individuals from the general population provides new information about lipid metabolism.

Targeted proteomic response to coffee consumption

PURPOSE

Coffee is widely consumed and implicated in numerous health outcomes but the mechanisms by which coffee contributes to health is unclear. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of coffee drinking on candidate proteins involved in cardiovascular, immuno-oncological and neurological pathways.

METHODS

We examined fasting serum samples collected from a previously reported single blinded, three-stage clinical trial. Forty-seven habitual coffee consumers refrained from drinking coffee for 1 month, consumed 4 cups of coffee/day in the second month and 8 cups/day in the third month. Samples collected after each coffee stage were analyzed using three multiplex proximity extension assays that, after quality control, measured a total of 247 proteins implicated in cardiovascular, immuno-oncological and neurological pathways and of which 59 were previously linked to coffee exposure. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the relationship between coffee treatment and each protein.

RESULTS

Two neurology-related proteins including carboxypeptidase M (CPM) and neutral ceramidase (N-CDase or ASAH2), significantly increased after coffee intake (P < 0.05 and Q < 0.05). An additional 46 proteins were nominally associated with coffee intake (P < 0.05 and Q > 0.05); 9, 8 and 29 of these proteins related to cardiovascular, immuno-oncological and neurological pathways, respectively, and the levels of 41 increased with coffee intake.

CONCLUSIONS

CPM and N-CDase levels increased in response to coffee intake. These proteins have not previously been linked to coffee and are thus novel markers of coffee response worthy of further study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12547806.

Coffee consumption and plasma biomarkers of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in US health professionals

BACKGROUND

Coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of various health outcomes. However, the biological pathways mediating the associations remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the association between coffee consumption and concentrations of plasma biomarkers in key metabolic and inflammatory pathways underlying common chronic diseases.

METHODS

We investigated the associations of total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption with 14 plasma biomarkers, including C-peptide, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein (IGFBP) 1, IGFBP-3, estrone, total and free estradiol, total and free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), total adiponectin, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR-2). Data were derived from 2 cohorts of 15,551 women (Nurses' Health Study) and 7397 men (Health Professionals Follow-Up Study), who provided detailed dietary data before blood draw and were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at the time of blood draw. Multivariable linear regression was used to calculate the percentage difference of biomarker concentrations comparing coffee drinkers with nondrinkers, after adjusting for a variety of demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

Compared with nondrinkers, participants who drank ≥4 cups of total coffee/d had lower concentrations of C-peptide (-8.7%), IGFBP-3 (-2.2%), estrone (-6.4%), total estradiol (-5.7%), free estradiol (-8.1%), leptin (-6.4%), CRP (-16.6%), IL-6 (-8.1%), and sTNFR-2 (-5.8%) and higher concentrations of SHBG (5.0%), total testosterone (7.3% in women and 5.3% in men), total adiponectin (9.3%), and HMW adiponectin (17.2%). The results were largely similar for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that coffee consumption is associated with favorable profiles of numerous biomarkers in key metabolic and inflammatory pathways. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03419455.

Coffee, caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and the purinergic system

Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans and is lauded for its aroma and flavour. It is the third most popular beverage in the world. This beverage is known by its stimulant effect associated with the presence of methylxanthines. Caffeine, a purine-like molecule (1,3,7 trymetylxantine), is the most important bioactive compound in coffee, among others such as chlorogenic acid (CGA), diterpenes, and trigonelline. CGA is a phenolic acid with biological properties as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotector, hypolipidemic, and hypoglicemic. Purinergic system plays a key role inneuromodulation and homeostasis. Extracellular ATP, other nucleotides and adenosine are signalling molecules that act through their specific receptors, namely purinoceptors, P1 for nucleosides and P2 for nucleotides. They regulate many pathological processes, since adenosine, for instance, can limit the damage caused by ATP in the excitotoxicity from the neuronal cells. The primary purpose of this review is to discuss the effects of coffee, caffeine, and CGA on the purinergic system. This review focuses on the relationship/interplay between coffee, caffeine, CGA, and adenosine, and their effects on ectonucleotidases activities as well as on the modulation of P1 and P2 receptors from central nervous system and also in peripheral tissue.