1
|
Singh M, Kumar A, Khanna NN, Laird JR, Nicolaides A, Faa G, Johri AM, Mantella LE, Fernandes JFE, Teji JS, Singh N, Fouda MM, Singh R, Sharma A, Kitas G, Rathore V, Singh IM, Tadepalli K, Al-Maini M, Isenovic ER, Chaturvedi S, Garg D, Paraskevas KI, Mikhailidis DP, Viswanathan V, Kalra MK, Ruzsa Z, Saba L, Laine AF, Bhatt DL, Suri JS. Artificial intelligence for cardiovascular disease risk assessment in personalised framework: a scoping review. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 73:102660. [PMID: 38846068 PMCID: PMC11154124 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The field of precision medicine endeavors to transform the healthcare industry by advancing individualised strategies for diagnosis, treatment modalities, and predictive assessments. This is achieved by utilizing extensive multidimensional biological datasets encompassing diverse components, such as an individual's genetic makeup, functional attributes, and environmental influences. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, namely machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), have exhibited remarkable efficacy in predicting the potential occurrence of specific cancers and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods We conducted a comprehensive scoping review guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. Our search strategy involved combining key terms related to CVD and AI using the Boolean operator AND. In August 2023, we conducted an extensive search across reputable scholarly databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and arXiv to gather relevant academic literature on personalised medicine for CVD. Subsequently, in January 2024, we extended our search to include internet search engines such as Google and various CVD websites. These searches were further updated in March 2024. Additionally, we reviewed the reference lists of the final selected research articles to identify any additional relevant literature. Findings A total of 2307 records were identified during the process of conducting the study, consisting of 564 entries from external sites like arXiv and 1743 records found through database searching. After 430 duplicate articles were eliminated, 1877 items that remained were screened for relevancy. In this stage, 1241 articles remained for additional review after 158 irrelevant articles and 478 articles with insufficient data were removed. 355 articles were eliminated for being inaccessible, 726 for being written in a language other than English, and 281 for not having undergone peer review. Consequently, 121 studies were deemed suitable for inclusion in the qualitative synthesis. At the intersection of CVD, AI, and precision medicine, we found important scientific findings in our scoping review. Intricate pattern extraction from large, complicated genetic datasets is a skill that AI algorithms excel at, allowing for accurate disease diagnosis and CVD risk prediction. Furthermore, these investigations have uncovered unique genetic biomarkers linked to CVD, providing insight into the workings of the disease and possible treatment avenues. The construction of more precise predictive models and personalised treatment plans based on the genetic profiles of individual patients has been made possible by the revolutionary advancement of CVD risk assessment through the integration of AI and genomics. Interpretation The systematic methodology employed ensured the thorough examination of available literature and the inclusion of relevant studies, contributing to the robustness and reliability of the study's findings. Our analysis stresses a crucial point in terms of the adaptability and versatility of AI solutions. AI algorithms designed in non-CVD domains such as in oncology, often include ideas and tactics that might be modified to address cardiovascular problems. Funding No funding received.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manasvi Singh
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, 95661, USA
- Bennett University, 201310, Greater Noida, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Bennett University, 201310, Greater Noida, India
| | - Narendra N. Khanna
- Department of Cardiology, Indraprastha APOLLO Hospitals, New Delhi, 110001, India
| | - John R. Laird
- Heart and Vascular Institute, Adventist Health St. Helena, St Helena, CA, 94574, USA
| | - Andrew Nicolaides
- Vascular Screening and Diagnostic Centre and University of Nicosia Medical School, Cyprus
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Amer M. Johri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Laura E. Mantella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Jagjit S. Teji
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Narpinder Singh
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Graphic Era Deemed to Be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - Mostafa M. Fouda
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA
| | - Rajesh Singh
- Department of Research and Innovation, Uttaranchal Institute of Technology, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Aditya Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22901, VA, USA
| | - George Kitas
- Academic Affairs, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, DY1, Dudley, UK
| | - Vijay Rathore
- Nephrology Department, Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento, CA, 95823, USA
| | - Inder M. Singh
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, 95661, USA
| | | | - Mustafa Al-Maini
- Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Institute, Toronto, ON, L4Z 4C4, Canada
| | - Esma R. Isenovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, National Institute of The Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 110010, Serbia
| | - Seemant Chaturvedi
- Department of Neurology & Stroke Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Dimitri P. Mikhailidis
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Hospital Campus, University College London Medical School, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | | | | | - Zoltan Ruzsa
- Invasive Cardiology Division, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Luca Saba
- Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, 40138, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrew F. Laine
- Departments of Biomedical and Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jasjit S. Suri
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, 95661, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Graphic Era Deemed to Be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gibson JT, Rudd JHF. Polygenic risk scores in atrial fibrillation: Associations and clinical utility in disease prediction. Heart Rhythm 2024; 21:913-918. [PMID: 38336192 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.02.006] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart arrhythmia and a major cause of cardioembolic stroke. Therefore, accurate prediction is desirable to allow high-risk individuals to be identified early and their risk lowered before complications arise. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) have become a popular method of quantifying aggregated genetic risk from common variants, but their clinical value in AF remains uncertain. This literature review summarizes the associations between PRS and AF risk and discusses the evidence for the clinical utility of PRS for AF prediction. Stroke risk in patients with AF is also considered. Despite consistent associations between PRS and AF risk, the performance of PRS as a stand-alone tool for AF prediction was poor. However, addition of PRS to the existing AF prediction models commonly improved the predictive performance above that of the clinical models alone, including in cohorts with comorbid cardiovascular disease. Associations between PRS and cardioembolic stroke risk in patients with AF have also been reported, but improvements in stroke prediction models from PRS have been minimal. PRS are likely to add value to the existing clinical AF prediction models; however, standardization of PRS across studies and populations will likely be required before they can be meaningfully adopted into routine clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joel T Gibson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Lv 6 Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - James H F Rudd
- Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chappell E, Arbour L, Laksman Z. The Inclusion of Underrepresented Populations in Cardiovascular Genetics and Epidemiology. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024; 11:56. [PMID: 38392270 PMCID: PMC10888590 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11020056] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel genetic risk markers have helped us to advance the field of cardiovascular epidemiology and refine our current understanding and risk stratification paradigms. The discovery and analysis of variants can help us to tailor prognostication and management. However, populations underrepresented in cardiovascular epidemiology and cardiogenetics research may experience inequities in care if prediction tools are not applicable to them clinically. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to outline the barriers that underrepresented populations can face in participating in genetics research, to describe the current efforts to diversify cardiogenetics research, and to outline strategies that researchers in cardiovascular epidemiology can implement to include underrepresented populations. Mistrust, a lack of diverse research teams, the improper use of sensitive biodata, and the constraints of genetic analyses are all barriers for including diverse populations in genetics studies. The current work is beginning to address the paucity of ethnically diverse genetics research and has already begun to shed light on the potential benefits of including underrepresented and diverse populations. Reducing barriers for individuals, utilizing community-driven research processes, adopting novel recruitment strategies, and pushing for organizational support for diverse genetics research are key steps that clinicians and researchers can take to develop equitable risk stratification tools and improve patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elias Chappell
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Laura Arbour
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Zachary Laksman
- Department of Medicine and the School of Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vinciguerra M, Dobrev D, Nattel S. Atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2024; 37:100785. [PMID: 38362554 PMCID: PMC10866930 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia affecting up to 1% of the general population. Its prevalence dramatically increases with age and could reach up to ∼10% in the elderly. The management of AF is a complex issue that is object of extensive ongoing basic and clinical research, it depends on its genetic and epigenetic causes, and it varies considerably geographically and also according to the ethnicity. Mechanistically, over the last decade, Genome Wide Association Studies have uncovered over 100 genetic loci associated with AF, and have shown that European ancestry is associated with elevated risk of AF. These AF-associated loci revolve around different types of disturbances, including inflammation, electrical abnormalities, and structural remodeling. Moreover, the discovery of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, involving non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, has allowed unravelling what modifications reshape the processes leading to arrhythmias. Our review provides a current state of the field regarding the identification and functional characterization of AF-related genetic and epigenetic regulatory networks, including ethnic differences. We discuss clear and emerging connections between genetic regulation and pathophysiological mechanisms of AF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- IHU LIRYC and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barnett EJ, Onete DG, Salekin A, Faraone SV. Genomic Machine Learning Meta-regression: Insights on Associations of Study Features With Reported Model Performance. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 21:169-177. [PMID: 38109236 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2023.3343808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have been conducted with the goal of correctly predicting diagnostic status of a disorder using the combination of genomic data and machine learning. It is often hard to judge which components of a study led to better results and whether better reported results represent a true improvement or an uncorrected bias inflating performance. We extracted information about the methods used and other differentiating features in genomic machine learning models. We used these features in linear regressions predicting model performance. We tested for univariate and multivariate associations as well as interactions between features. Of the models reviewed, 46% used feature selection methods that can lead to data leakage. Across our models, the number of hyperparameter optimizations reported, data leakage due to feature selection, model type, and modeling an autoimmune disorder were significantly associated with an increase in reported model performance. We found a significant, negative interaction between data leakage and training size. Our results suggest that methods susceptible to data leakage are prevalent among genomic machine learning research, resulting in inflated reported performance. Best practice guidelines that promote the avoidance and recognition of data leakage may help the field avoid biased results.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kim MJ, Martin CA, Kim J, Jablonski MM. Computational methods in glaucoma research: Current status and future outlook. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 94:101222. [PMID: 37925783 PMCID: PMC10842846 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101222] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Advancements in computational techniques have transformed glaucoma research, providing a deeper understanding of genetics, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets. Systems genetics integrates genomic and clinical data, aiding in identifying drug targets, comprehending disease mechanisms, and personalizing treatment strategies for glaucoma. Molecular dynamics simulations offer valuable molecular-level insights into glaucoma-related biomolecule behavior and drug interactions, guiding experimental studies and drug discovery efforts. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies hold promise in revolutionizing glaucoma research, enhancing disease diagnosis, target identification, and drug candidate selection. The generalized protocols for systems genetics, MD simulations, and AI model development are included as a guide for glaucoma researchers. These computational methods, however, are not separate and work harmoniously together to discover novel ways to combat glaucoma. Ongoing research and progresses in genomics technologies, MD simulations, and AI methodologies project computational methods to become an integral part of glaucoma research in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minjae J Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Hamilton Eye Institute, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| | - Cole A Martin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Hamilton Eye Institute, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| | - Jinhwa Kim
- Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence, Graduate School of Metaverse, Department of Management Information Systems, Sogang University, 1 Shinsoo-Dong, Mapo-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Monica M Jablonski
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Hamilton Eye Institute, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khanna NN, Singh M, Maindarkar M, Kumar A, Johri AM, Mentella L, Laird JR, Paraskevas KI, Ruzsa Z, Singh N, Kalra MK, Fernandes JFE, Chaturvedi S, Nicolaides A, Rathore V, Singh I, Teji JS, Al-Maini M, Isenovic ER, Viswanathan V, Khanna P, Fouda MM, Saba L, Suri JS. Polygenic Risk Score for Cardiovascular Diseases in Artificial Intelligence Paradigm: A Review. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e395. [PMID: 38013648 PMCID: PMC10681845 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e395] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) related mortality and morbidity heavily strain society. The relationship between external risk factors and our genetics have not been well established. It is widely acknowledged that environmental influence and individual behaviours play a significant role in CVD vulnerability, leading to the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS). We employed the PRISMA search method to locate pertinent research and literature to extensively review artificial intelligence (AI)-based PRS models for CVD risk prediction. Furthermore, we analyzed and compared conventional vs. AI-based solutions for PRS. We summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the use of AI-based PRS for risk prediction of CVD. Our study proposes three hypotheses: i) Multiple genetic variations and risk factors can be incorporated into AI-based PRS to improve the accuracy of CVD risk predicting. ii) AI-based PRS for CVD circumvents the drawbacks of conventional PRS calculators by incorporating a larger variety of genetic and non-genetic components, allowing for more precise and individualised risk estimations. iii) Using AI approaches, it is possible to significantly reduce the dimensionality of huge genomic datasets, resulting in more accurate and effective disease risk prediction models. Our study highlighted that the AI-PRS model outperformed traditional PRS calculators in predicting CVD risk. Furthermore, using AI-based methods to calculate PRS may increase the precision of risk predictions for CVD and have significant ramifications for individualized prevention and treatment plans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Narendra N Khanna
- Department of Cardiology, Indraprastha APOLLO Hospitals, New Delhi, India
- Asia Pacific Vascular Society, New Delhi, India
| | - Manasvi Singh
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, USA
- Bennett University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Mahesh Maindarkar
- Asia Pacific Vascular Society, New Delhi, India
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, USA
- School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research, Maharashtra Institute of Technology's Art, Design and Technology University, Pune, India
| | | | - Amer M Johri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Laura Mentella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - John R Laird
- Heart and Vascular Institute, Adventist Health St. Helena, St. Helena, CA, USA
| | | | - Zoltan Ruzsa
- Invasive Cardiology Division, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Narpinder Singh
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | - Seemant Chaturvedi
- Department of Neurology & Stroke Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Nicolaides
- Vascular Screening and Diagnostic Centre and University of Nicosia Medical School, Cyprus
| | - Vijay Rathore
- Nephrology Department, Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Inder Singh
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, USA
| | - Jagjit S Teji
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mostafa Al-Maini
- Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Esma R Isenovic
- Department of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, National Institute of The Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia
| | | | - Puneet Khanna
- Department of Anaesthesiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
| | - Mostafa M Fouda
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
| | - Luca Saba
- Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Jasjit S Suri
- Asia Pacific Vascular Society, New Delhi, India
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division, AtheroPoint™, Roseville, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Engineering, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gurung RL, Burdon KP, McComish BJ. A Guide to Genome-Wide Association Study Design for Diabetic Retinopathy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2678:49-89. [PMID: 37326705 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3255-0_5] [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: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication related to diabetes. There is evidence that genetics play an important role in DR pathogenesis, but the complexity of the disease makes genetic studies a challenge. This chapter is a practical overview of the basic steps for genome-wide association studies with respect to DR and its associated traits. Also described are approaches that can be adopted in future DR studies. This is intended to serve as a guide for beginners and to provide a framework for further in-depth analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajya L Gurung
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - Kathryn P Burdon
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - Bennet J McComish
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gorica E, Mohammed SA, Ambrosini S, Calderone V, Costantino S, Paneni F. Epi-Drugs in Heart Failure. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:923014. [PMID: 35911511 PMCID: PMC9326055 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.923014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unveiling the secrets of genome’s flexibility does not only foster new research in the field, but also gives rise to the exploration and development of novel epigenetic-based therapies as an approach to alleviate disease phenotypes. A better understanding of chromatin biology (DNA/histone complexes) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has enabled the development of epigenetic drugs able to modulate transcriptional programs implicated in cardiovascular diseases. This particularly applies to heart failure, where epigenetic networks have shown to underpin several pathological features, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and microvascular dysfunction. Targeting epigenetic signals might represent a promising approach, especially in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where prognosis remains poor and breakthrough therapies have yet to be approved. In this setting, epigenetics can be employed for the development of customized therapeutic approaches thus paving the way for personalized medicine. Even though the beneficial effects of epi-drugs are gaining attention, the number of epigenetic compounds used in the clinical practice remains low suggesting that more selective epi-drugs are needed. From DNA-methylation changes to non-coding RNAs, we can establish brand-new regulations for drug targets with the aim of restoring healthy epigenomes and transcriptional programs in the failing heart. In the present review, we bring the timeline of epi-drug discovery and development, thus highlighting the emerging role of epigenetic therapies in heart failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Era Gorica
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Shafeeq A Mohammed
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Samuele Ambrosini
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Sarah Costantino
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Paneni
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|