Associations Between TIM1 Polymorphisms and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Han Chinese Population

Immune checkpoints in cardiac physiology and pathology: therapeutic targets for heart failure

Immune checkpoint molecules are physiological regulators of the adaptive immune response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4, have revolutionized cancer treatment and their clinical use is increasing. However, ICIs can cause various immune-related adverse events, including acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Of these cardiovascular complications, ICI-induced acute fulminant myocarditis is the most studied, although emerging clinical and preclinical data are uncovering the importance of other ICI-related chronic cardiovascular complications, such as accelerated atherosclerosis and non-myocarditis-related heart failure. These complications could be more difficult to diagnose, given that they might only be present alongside other comorbidities. The occurrence of these complications suggests a potential role of immune checkpoint molecules in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, and disruption of physiological immune checkpoint signalling might thus lead to cardiac pathologies, including heart failure. Although inflammation is a long-known contributor to the development of heart failure, the therapeutic targeting of pro-inflammatory pathways has not been successful thus far. The increasingly recognized role of immune checkpoint molecules in the failing heart highlights their potential use as immunotherapeutic targets for heart failure. In this Review, we summarize the available data on ICI-induced cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, and discuss how immune checkpoint signalling is altered in the failing heart. Furthermore, we describe how pharmacological targeting of immune checkpoints could be used to treat heart failure.

Associations between TAB2 gene polymorphisms and dilated cardiomyopathy in a Chinese population

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the role of TAB2 gene polymorphisms in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) susceptibility and prognosis in a Chinese population. Materials & methods: A total of 343 DCM patients and 451 controls were enrolled and had their blood genotyped. Survival analysis was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Results: G carriers (AG/GG) and AG genotype of rs237028 had a higher DCM susceptibility as well as a worse DCM prognosis. Additionally, C carriers (CT/CC) of rs652921 and G carriers (TG/GG) of rs521845 had a higher DCM risk and CC homozygote of rs652921 had a worse DCM prognosis. These associations were still significant after adjustment for the Bonferroni correction. Conclusion: TAB2 gene polymorphisms were associated with DCM susceptibility and prognosis in the Chinese population.

T cell co-stimulation and co-inhibition in cardiovascular disease: a double-edged sword

The role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now widely accepted. Immune cells, including T cells, are influenced by inflammatory signals and contribute to the onset and progression of CVD. T cell activation is modulated by T cell co-stimulation and co-inhibition pathways. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting T cell inhibition pathways have revolutionized cancer treatment and improved survival in patients with cancer. However, ICIs might induce cardiovascular toxicity via T cell re-invigoration. With the rising use of ICIs for cancer treatment, a timely overview of the role of T cell co-stimulation and inhibition molecules in CVD is desirable. In this Review, the importance of these molecules in the pathogenesis of CVD is highlighted in preclinical studies on models of CVD such as vein graft disease, myocarditis, graft arterial disease, post-ischaemic neovascularization and atherosclerosis. This Review also discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting T cell co-stimulation and inhibition pathways to treat CVD, as well as the possible cardiovascular benefits and adverse events after treatment. Finally, the Review emphasizes that patients with cancer who are treated with ICIs should be monitored for CVD given the reported association between the use of ICIs and the risk of cardiovascular toxicity.

Genetic polymorphisms of rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A at the promoter of TIM-1 gene contribute to the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in children

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms of rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A at the promoter of TIM-1 gene with the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children.

METHODS

A total of 112 children with CAP were included as the case group. Another 120 healthy children were enrolled as the control group. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was applied for the genotyping of rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A in the promoter region of TIM-1.

RESULTS

rs9313422 G>C was related to the risk of CAP in children under codominant model, dominant model, recessive model, and allele model. Besides, the A allele of rs41297579 G>A could increase the risk of CAP in children. Besides, the haplotype GA (rs9313422-rs41297579) and GG reduced the risk of children CAP, while haplotype CA had an elevated risk. rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A polymorphisms were both associated with the severity of CAP in children, and the rs9313422 G>C was also related to the ICU admission rate. In addition, patients carried with the mutant homozygotes of rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A showed higher levels of white blood cell (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) than the wild type and heterozygous genotypes carriers.

CONCLUSION

rs9313422 G>C and rs41297579 G>A polymorphisms in the promoter region of TIM-1 could increase the risk of CAP in children and showed a relation with inflammatory responses and severity.

A Novel Truncating LMNA Mutation in Patients with Cardiac Conduction Disorders and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The cardiac phenotype of laminopathies is characterized by cardiac conduction disorders (CCDs) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Although laminopathies have been considered monogenic, they exhibit a remarkable degree of clinical variability. This case series aimed to detect the causal mutation and to investigate the causes of clinical variability in a Japanese family with inherited CCD and DCM.Of the five family members investigated, four had either CCD/DCM or CCD alone, while one subject had no cardiovascular disease and acted as a normal control. We performed targeted resequencing of 174 inherited cardiovascular disease-associated genes in this family and pathological mutations were confirmed using Sanger sequencing. The degree of clinical severity and variability were also evaluated using long-term medical records. We discovered a novel heterozygous truncating lamin A/C (LMNA) mutation (c.774delG) in all four subjects with CCD. Because this mutation was predicted to cause a frameshift mutation and premature termination (p.Gln258HisfsTer222) in LMNA, we believe that this LMNA mutation was the causal mutation in this family with CCD and laminopathies. In addition, gender-specific intra-familiar clinical variability was observed in this Japanese family where affected males exhibited an earlier onset of CCD and more severe DCM compared to affected females. Using targeted resequencing, we discovered a novel truncating LMNA mutation associated with CCD and DCM in this family characterized by gender differences in clinical severity in LMNA carriers. Our results suggest that in patients with laminopathy, clinical severity may be the result of multiple factors.