| 1. |
- Folkersen, Lasse, et al.
(author)
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Genomic and drug target evaluation of 90 cardiovascular proteins in 30,931 individuals.
- 2020
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In: Nature metabolism. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2522-5812. ; 2:10, s. 1135-1148
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Circulating proteins are vital in human health and disease and are frequently used as biomarkers for clinical decision-making or as targets for pharmacological intervention. Here, we map and replicate protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) for 90 cardiovascular proteins in over 30,000 individuals, resulting in 451 pQTLs for 85 proteins. For each protein, we further perform pathway mapping to obtain trans-pQTL gene and regulatory designations. We substantiate these regulatory findings with orthogonal evidence for trans-pQTLs using mouse knockdown experiments (ABCA1 and TRIB1) and clinical trial results (chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5), with consistent regulation. Finally, we evaluate known drug targets, and suggest new target candidates or repositioning opportunities using Mendelian randomization. This identifies 11 proteins with causal evidence of involvement in human disease that have not previously been targeted, including EGF, IL-16, PAPPA, SPON1, F3, ADM, CASP-8, CHI3L1, CXCL16, GDF15 and MMP-12. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the utility of large-scale mapping of the genetics of the proteome and provide a resource for future precision studies of circulating proteins in human health.
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| 2. |
- Lind, Lars, et al.
(author)
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The plasma protein profile and cardiovascular risk differ between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and the bulb : A meta-analysis and a longitudinal evaluation
- 2020
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 0021-9150 .- 1879-1484. ; 295, s. 25-30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and aims: Genetic loci associated with CHD show different relationships with intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA) and in the bulb (IMT-bulb). We evaluated if IMT-CCA and IMT-bulb differ also with respect to circulating protein profiles and risk of incident atherosclerotic disease.Methods: In three Swedish cohorts (MDC, IMPROVE, PIVUS, total n > 7000), IMT-CCA and IMT-bulb were assessed by ultrasound at baseline, and 86 cardiovascular-related proteins were analyzed. In the PIVUS study only, IMT-CCA and IMT-bulb were investigated in relation to incident atherosclerotic disease over 10 years of follow-up.Results: In a meta-analysis of the analysis performed separately in the cohorts, three proteins, matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were associated with IMT-CCA when adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Five proteins were associated with IMT-bulb (MMP-12, growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), osteoprotegerin, growth hormone and renin). Following adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, IMT-bulb was significantly more closely related to incident stroke or myocardial infarction (total number of cases, 111) than IMT-CCA in the PIVUS study (HR 1.51 for 1 SD, 95%CI 1.21-1.87, p < 0.001 vs HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.93-1.47, p = 0.16). MMP-12 levels were related to this combined end-point (HR 1.30, 95%CI 1.08-1.56, p = 0.0061).Conclusions: Elevated levels of MMP-12 were associated with both IMT-CCA and IMT-bulb, but other proteins were significantly related to IMT in only one of these locations. The finding that IMT-bulb was more closely related to incident atherosclerotic disease than IMT-CCA emphasizes a difference between these measurements of IMT.
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| 3. |
- Wigren, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Decreased levels of stem cell factor in subjects with incident coronary events
- 2016
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 279:2, s. 180-191
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that vascular progenitor cells play an important role in vascular repair, but their possible clinical importance in cardiovascular disease has not been fully characterized. Vascular endothelial growth factor A, placental growth factor and stem cell factor (SCF) are three growth factors that are important in recruiting vascular progenitor cells. In this study, we investigated the association between the plasma levels of these growth factors and incident coronary events (CEs).METHODS: Levels of the three growth factors were measured using the proximity extension assay technique in baseline plasma samples from 384 subjects with a first CE (mean follow-up 14.0 ± 4.3 years) and 409 event-free control subjects matched by sex and age, as well as in homogenates from 201 endarterectomy specimens.RESULTS: After controlling for known cardiovascular disease risk factors in a Cox regression model, subjects in the lowest SCF tertile had a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval 1.14-2.54) compared with subjects in the highest SCF tertile. Lower SCF levels were also associated with more severe carotid disease, less fibrous atherosclerotic plaques and an increased incidence of heart failure. Expression of the SCF receptor c-kit was demonstrated in the subendothelial layer and fibrous cap of human atherosclerotic plaques. Smokers and subjects with diabetes had decreased levels of SCF compared with control subjects.CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study to provide evidence to support a key role for SCF and progenitor cells in vascular repair. We suggest that the SCF-c-kit pathway may be a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease.
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| 4. |
- Gränsbo, Klas, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular and Cancer Mortality in Very Elderly Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients Receiving Statin Treatment
- 2010
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In: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0735-1097 .- 1558-3597. ; 55:13, s. 1362-1369
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether statin treatment is effective and safe in very elderly (80 years and older) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Background Elderly individuals constitute an increasing percentage of patients admitted to hospitals for AMI. Despite that these patients have a higher mortality risk, the application of evidence-based medicine remains much lower than for younger patients. Methods We included all patients 80 years and older who were admitted with the diagnosis of AMI in the Register of Information and Knowledge About Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions between 1999 and 2003 (n = 21,410). Of these, complete covariate and follow-up data were available for 14,907 patients (study population A). To limit the bias related comorbidity on statin therapy, we also performed analyses excluding patients who died within 14 days of the acute event (study population B) and all patients who died within 365 days (study population C). A propensity score was used to adjust for initial differences between treatment groups. Results All-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients receiving statin treatment at discharge in study population A (relative risk: 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.51 to 0.59), in study population B (relative risk: 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.60 to 0.71), and in study population C (relative risk: 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.59 to 0.76). Similar observations were made for cardiovascular mortality as well as for AMI mortality. There was no increase in cancer mortality in statin-treated patients. Conclusions Statin treatment is associated with lower cardiovascular mortality in very elderly post-infarction patients without increasing the risk of the development of cancer.
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| 5. |
- Lind, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Plasma Protein Profile of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Atherosclerotic Outcomes : Meta-Analyses and Mendelian Randomization Analyses
- 2021
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In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1079-5642 .- 1524-4636. ; 41:5, s. 1777-1788
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To identify causal pathophysiological mechanisms for atherosclerosis and incident cardiovascular events using protein measurements.APPROACH AND RESULTS: Carotid artery atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound, and 86 cardiovascular-related proteins were measured using the Olink CVD-I panel in 7 Swedish prospective studies (11 754 individuals). The proteins were analyzed in relation to intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA), plaque occurrence, and incident cardiovascular events (composite end point of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke) using a discovery/replication approach in different studies. After adjustments for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, 11 proteins remained significantly associated with IMT-CCA in the replication stage, whereas 9 proteins were replicated for plaque occurrence and 17 proteins for incident cardiovascular events. NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-12 were associated with both IMT-CCA and incident events, but the overlap was considerably larger between plaque occurrence and incident events, including MMP-12, TIM-1 (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1), GDF (growth/differentiation factor)-15, IL (interleukin)-6, U-PAR (urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor), LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized LDL [low-density lipoprotein] receptor 1), and TRAIL-R2 (TNF [tumor necrosis factor]-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2). Only MMP-12 was associated with IMT-CCA, plaque, and incident events with a positive and concordant direction of effect. However, a 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis suggested that increased MMP-12 may be protective against ischemic stroke (P=5.5x10(-7)), which is in the opposite direction of the observational analyses.CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis discovered several proteins related to carotid atherosclerosis that partly differed in their association with IMT-CCA, plaque, and incident atherosclerotic disease. Mendelian randomization analysis for the top finding, MMP-12, suggests that the increased levels of MMP-12 could be a consequence of atherosclerotic burden rather than the opposite chain of events.
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| 6. |
- McLeod, Olga, et al.
(author)
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Genetic loci on chromosome 5 are associated with circulating levels of interleukin-5 and eosinophil count in a European population with high risk for cardiovascular disease
- 2016
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In: Cytokine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1043-4666 .- 1096-0023. ; 81, s. 1-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IL-5 is a Th2 cytokine which activates eosinophils and is suggested to have an atheroprotective role. Genetic variants in the IL5 locus have been associated with increased risk of CAD and ischemic stroke. In this study we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with IL-5 concentrations and apply a Mendelian randomisation approach to assess IL-5 levels for causal effect on intima-media thickness in a European population at high risk of coronary artery disease. We analysed SNPs within robustly associated candidate loci for immune, inflammatory, metabolic and cardiovascular traits. We identified 2 genetic loci for IL-5 levels (chromosome 5, rs56183820, BETA = 0.11, P = 6.73E(-5) and chromosome 14, rs4902762, BETA = 0.12, P= 5.76E(-6)) and one for eosinophil count (rs72797327, BETA = -0.10, P = 1.41E(-6)). Both chromosome 5 loci were in the vicinity of the IL5 gene, however the association with IL-5 levels failed to replicate in a meta-analysis of 2 independent cohorts (rs56183820, BETA = 0.04, P= 0.2763, I-2 = 24, I-2 - P = 0.2516). No significant associations were observed between SNPs associated with IL-5 levels or eosinophil count and IMT measures. Expression quantitative trait analyses indicate effects of the IL-5 and eosinophil-associated SNPs on RAD50 mRNA expression levels (rs12652920 (r2 = 0.93 with rs56183820) BETA = -0.10, P = 8.64E(-6) and rs11739623 (r2 = 0.96 with rs72797327) BETA = -0.23, P = 1.74E(-29), respectively). Our data do not support a role for IL-5 levels and eosinophil count in intima-media thickness, however SNP5 associated with IL-5 and eosinophils might influence stability of the atherosclerotic plaque via modulation of RAD50 levels.
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| 7. |
- Rattik, Sara, et al.
(author)
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High Plasma Levels of Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor Are Associated With a More Stable Plaque Phenotype and Reduced Incidence of Coronary Events
- 2015
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In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. - 1079-5642 .- 1524-4636. ; 35:1, s. 222-228
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective-Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is the major cause of acute coronary events (CEs). Plaque destabilization is the consequence of an imbalance between inflammatory-driven degradation of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle cell-dependent tissue repair. Proinflammatory factors have been documented extensively as biomarkers of cardiovascular risk but factors that contribute to stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques have received less attention. The present study aimed to investigate whether plasma levels of the smooth muscle cell growth factor epidermal growth factor (EGF), heparin-binding-EGF (HB-EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor correlate with plaque phenotype and incidence of CEs. Approach and Results-HB-EGF, EGF and platelet-derived growth factor were measured in plasma from 202 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and in 384 incident CE cases and 409 matched controls recruited from the Malmo Diet and Cancer cohort. Significant positive associations were found between the plasma levels of all 3 growth factors and the collagen and elastin contents of the removed plaques. CE cases in the Malmo Diet and Cancer cohort had lower levels of HB-EGF in plasma, whereas no significant differences were found for EGF and platelet-derived growth factor. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors in a Cox proportional hazard model, the hazard ratio for the highest HB-EGF tertile was 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.82; P<0.001). Conclusions-The associations between high levels of smooth muscle cell growth factors in plasma and a more fibrous plaque phenotype as well as the association between low levels of HB-EGF and incident CEs point to a potential clinically important role for factors that contribute to plaque stabilization by stimulating smooth muscle cells.
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