1. |
- Davidsson, Pia, et al.
(author)
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Vascular endothelial growth factor-D plasma levels and VEGFD genetic variants are independently associated with outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease
- 2023
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In: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0008-6363 .- 1755-3245. ; 119:7, s. 1596-1605
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family is involved in pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between circulating VEGF ligands and/or soluble receptors and CV outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).Methods and results Levels of VEGF biomarkers, including bFGF, Flt-1, KDR (VEGFR2), PlGF, Tie-2, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D, were measured in the PLATO ACS cohort (n = 2091, discovery cohort). Subsequently, VEGF-D was also measured in the STABILITY CCS cohort (n = 4015, confirmation cohort) to verify associations with CV outcomes. Associations between plasma VEGF-D and outcomes were analysed by multiple Cox regression models with hazard ratios (HR [95% CI]) comparing the upper vs. the lower quartile of VEGF-D. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of VEGF-D in PLATO identified SNPs that were used as genetic instruments in Mendelian randomization (MR) meta-analyses vs. clinical endpoints. GWAS and MR were performed in patients with ACS from PLATO (n = 10 013) and FRISC-II (n = 2952), and with CCS from the STABILITY trial (n = 10 786). VEGF-D, KDR, Flt-1, and PlGF showed significant association with CV outcomes. VEGF-D was most strongly associated with CV death (P = 3.73e-05, HR 1.892 [1.419, 2.522]). Genome-wide significant associations with VEGF-D levels were identified at the VEGFD locus on chromosome Xp22. MR analyses of the combined top ranked SNPs (GWAS P-values; rs192812042, P = 5.82e-20; rs234500, P = 1.97e-14) demonstrated a significant effect on CV mortality [P = 0.0257, HR 1.81 (1.07, 3.04) per increase of one unit in log VEGF-D].Conclusion This is the first large-scale cohort study to demonstrate that both VEGF-D plasma levels and VEGFD genetic variants are independently associated with CV outcomes in patients with ACS and CCS. Measurements of VEGF-D levels and/or VEGFD genetic variants may provide incremental prognostic information in patients with ACS and CCS.
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2. |
- Correia, Cláudia, et al.
(author)
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Unraveling the Metabolic Derangements Occurring in Non-infarcted Areas of Pig Hearts With Chronic Heart Failure
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2297-055X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: After myocardial infarction (MI), the non-infarcted left ventricle (LV) ensures appropriate contractile function of the heart. Metabolic disturbance in this region greatly exacerbates post-MI heart failure (HF) pathology. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic derangements occurring in the non-infarcted LV that could trigger cardiovascular deterioration. Methods and Results: We used a pig model that progressed into chronic HF over 3 months following MI induction. Integrated gene and metabolite signatures revealed region-specific perturbations in amino acid- and lipid metabolism, insulin signaling and, oxidative stress response. Remote LV, in particular, showed impaired glutamine and arginine metabolism, altered synthesis of lipids, glucose metabolism disorder, and increased insulin resistance. LPIN1, PPP1R3C, PTPN1, CREM, and NR0B2 were identified as the main effectors in metabolism dysregulation in the remote zone and were found differentially expressed also in the myocardium of patients with ischemic and/or dilated cardiomyopathy. In addition, a simultaneous significant decrease in arginine levels and altered PRCP, PTPN1, and ARF6 expression suggest alterations in vascular function in remote area. Conclusions: This study unravels an array of dysregulated genes and metabolites putatively involved in maladaptive metabolic and vascular remodeling in the non-infarcted myocardium and may contribute to the development of more precise therapies to mitigate progression of chronic HF post-MI.
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3. |
- Das, Sarbashis, et al.
(author)
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Transcriptomics of cardiac biopsies reveals differences in patients with or without diagnostic parameters for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- 2019
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Heart failure affects 2-3% of adult Western population. Prevalence of heart failure with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFpEF) increases. Studies suggest HFpEF patients to have altered myocardial structure and functional changes such as incomplete relaxation and increased cardiac stiffness. We hypothesised that patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery (CABG) with HFpEF characteristics would show distinctive gene expression compared to patients with normal LV physiology. Myocardial biopsies for mRNA expression analysis were obtained from sixteen patients with LV ejection fraction >= 45%. Five out of 16 patients (31%) had echocardiographic characteristics and increased NTproBNP levels indicative of HFpEF and this group was used as HFpEF proxy, while 11 patients had Normal LV physiology. Utilising principal component analysis, the gene expression data clustered into two groups, corresponding to HFpEF proxy and Normal physiology, and 743 differentially expressed genes were identified. The associated top biological functions were cardiac muscle contraction, oxidative phosphorylation, cellular remodelling and matrix organisation. Our results also indicate that upstream regulatory events, including inhibition of transcription factors STAT4, SRF and TP53, and activation of transcription repressors HEY2 and KDM5A, could provide explanatory mechanisms to observed gene expression differences and ultimately cardiac dysfunction in the HFpEF proxy group.
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4. |
- ElBeck, Zaher, et al.
(author)
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Epigenetic modulators link mitochondrial redox homeostasis to cardiac function in a sex-dependent manner
- 2024
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a characteristic hallmark of numerous diseases, clinical approaches that ameliorate oxidative stress have been unsuccessful. Here, utilizing multi-omics, we demonstrate that in cardiomyocytes, mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2) constitutes a major antioxidative defense mechanism. Paradoxically reduced expression of IDH2 associated with ventricular eccentric hypertrophy is counterbalanced by an increase in the enzyme activity. We unveil redox-dependent sex dimorphism, and extensive mutual regulation of the antioxidative activities of IDH2 and NRF2 by a feedforward network that involves 2-oxoglutarate and L-2-hydroxyglutarate and mediated in part through unconventional hydroxy-methylation of cytosine residues present in introns. Consequently, conditional targeting of ROS in a murine model of heart failure improves cardiac function in sex- and phenotype-dependent manners. Together, these insights may explain why previous attempts to treat heart failure with antioxidants have been unsuccessful and open new approaches to personalizing and, thereby, improving such treatment.
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5. |
- Frisk, Christoffer, et al.
(author)
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Cardiac biopsies reveal differences in transcriptomics between left and right ventricle in patients with or without diagnostic signs of heart failure
- 2024
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New or mild heart failure (HF) is mainly caused by left ventricular dysfunction. We hypothesised that gene expression differ between the left (LV) and right ventricle (RV) and secondly by type of LV dysfunction. We compared gene expression through myocardial biopsies from LV and RV of patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery (CABG). Patients were categorised based on LV ejection fraction (EF), diastolic function and NT-proBNP into pEF (preserved; LVEF ≥ 45%), rEF (reduced; LVEF < 45%) or normal LV function. Principal component analysis of gene expression displayed two clusters corresponding to LV and RV. Up-regulated genes in LV included natriuretic peptides NPPA and NPPB, transcription factors/coactivators STAT4 and VGLL2, ion channel related HCN2 and LRRC38 associated with cardiac muscle contraction, cytoskeleton, and cellular component movement. Patients with pEF phenotype versus normal differed in gene expression predominantly in LV, supporting that diastolic dysfunction and structural changes reflect early LV disease in pEF. DKK2 was overexpressed in LV of HFpEF phenotype, potentially leading to lower expression levels of β-catenin, α-SMA (smooth muscle actin), and enhanced apoptosis, and could be a possible factor in the development of HFpEF. CXCL14 was down-regulated in both pEF and rEF, and may play a role to promote development of HF.
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6. |
- Nilsson, Sven, et al.
(author)
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Rat–Mouse and Rat–Human Comparative Maps Based on Gene Homology and High-Resolution Zoo-FISH
- 2001
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In: Genomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0888-7543 .- 1089-8646. ; 74:3, s. 287-98
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, and the laboratory mouse, Mus musculus, are key animal models in biomedical research. A deeper understanding of the genetic interrelationsships between Homo sapiens and these two rodent species is desirable for extending the usefulness of the animal models. We present comprehensive rat–human and rat–mouse comparative maps, based on 1090 gene homology assignments available for rat genes. Radiation hybrid, FISH, and zoo-FISH mapping data have been integrated to produce comparative maps that are estimated to comprise 83–100% of the conserved regions between rat and mouse and 66–82% of the conserved regions between rat and human. The rat–mouse zoo-FISH analysis, supported by data for individual genes, revealed nine previously undetected conserved regions compared to earlier reports. Since there is almost complete genome coverage in the rat–mouse comparative map, we conclude that it is feasible to make accurate predictions of gene positions in the rat based on gene locations in the mouse.
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7. |
- Pedrelli, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Vasculoprotective Properties of Plasma Lipoproteins from Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)
- 2021
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In: Journal of Lipid Research. - : American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels are twice as high in hibernating brown bears (Ursus arctos) than healthy humans. Yet, bears display no signs of early-stage atherosclerosis development when adult. To explore this apparent paradox, we analysed plasma lipoproteins from the same ten bears in winter (hibernation) and in summer using size exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis. LDL cholesterol binding to arterial proteoglycans, and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity were also evaluated. The data collected and analysed from bears were also compared with those from healthy humans. In bears the cholesterol esters, unesterified cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid content of VLDL and LDL were higher in winter than in summer. The percentage lipid composition of LDL differed between bears and humans, but did not change seasonally in bears. Bear LDL was larger, richer in triglycerides, showed pre-beta electrophoretic mobility and had 5-10 times lower binding to arterial proteoglycans than human LDL. Finally, plasma cholesterol efflux capacity was higher in bears than in humans, especially the HDL fraction when mediated by ABCA1. These results suggest that in brown bears the absence of early atherogenesis is likely associated with a lower affinity of LDL cholesterol for arterial proteoglycans and an elevated cholesterol efflux capacity of bear plasma.
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8. |
- Pedrelli, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Vasculoprotective properties of plasma lipoproteins from brown bears (Ursus arctos)
- 2021
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In: Journal of Lipid Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels are twice as high in hibernating brown bears (Ursus arctos) than healthy humans. Yet, bears display no signs of early stage atherosclerosis development when adult. To explore this apparent paradox, we analyzed plasma lipoproteins from the same 10 bears in winter (hibernation) and summer using size exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and electrophoresis. LDL binding to arterial proteoglycans (PGs) and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) were also evaluated. The data collected and analyzed from bears were also compared with those from healthy humans. In bears, the cholesterol ester, unesterified cholesterol, TG, and phospholipid contents of VLDL and LDL were higher in winter than in summer. The percentage lipid composition of LDL differed between bears and humans but did not change seasonally in bears. Bear LDL was larger, richer in TGs, showed prebeta electrophoretic mobility, and had 5-10 times lower binding to arterial PGs than human LDL. Finally, plasma CEC was higher in bears than in humans, especially the HDL fraction when mediated by ABCA1. These results suggest that in brown bears the absence of early atherogenesis is likely associated with a lower affinity of LDL for arterial PGs and an elevated CEC of bear plasma.
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9. |
- Pereira, Maria J, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Dapagliflozin Plus Once-Weekly Exenatide Versus Placebo in Individuals with Obesity and Without Diabetes : Metabolic Effects and Markers Associated with Bodyweight Loss
- 2018
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In: Diabetes Therapy. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 1869-6953 .- 1869-6961. ; 9:4, s. 1511-1532
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exenatide reduce bodyweight via differing and complementary mechanisms. This post hoc analysis investigated the metabolic effects and baseline associations with bodyweight loss on coadministration of dapagliflozin and exenatide once weekly (QW) among adults with obesity and without diabetes. In the primary trial, adults with obesity and without diabetes [n = 50; 18-70 years; body mass index (BMI) 30-45 kg/m(2)] were randomized to double-blind oral dapagliflozin 10 mg (DAPA) once daily plus subcutaneous long-acting exenatide 2 mg QW (ExQW) or placebo over 24 weeks, followed by an open-label extension from 24-52 weeks during which all participants received active treatment. Primary results have been published previously. This analysis evaluated: (1) the effects of DAPA + ExQW on changes in substrates [free fatty acids (FFAs), glycerol, beta-OH-butyrate, and glucose], hormones (glucagon and insulin), and insulin secretion [insulinogenic index (IGI)] via an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and (2) associations between bodyweight loss and baseline characteristics (e.g., BMI), single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the GLP-1 pathway, and markers of glucose regulation. Compared with placebo at 24 weeks, 2-h FFAs post-OGTT increased (mean difference, +20.4 mu mol/l; P < 0.05), and fasting glucose, 2-h glucose post-OGTT, and glucose area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) decreased with DAPA + ExQW [mean differences, -0.68 mmol/l [P < 0.001], -2.20 mmol/l (P < 0.01), and -306 mmol/l min (P < 0.001), respectively]. Glucagon, glycerol, beta-OH-butyrate, and IGI did not differ by treatment group at 24 weeks. Over 52 weeks, DAPA + ExQW decreased fasting insulin, 2-h post-OGTT insulin, and insulin AUC. Among DAPA + ExQW-treated participants, for each copy of the SNP variant rs10010131 A allele (gene WFS1), bodyweight decreased by 2.4 kg (P < 0.05). Lower BMI and a lower IGI were also associated with greater bodyweight loss with DAPA + ExQW. Metabolic effects with DAPA + ExQW included less FFA suppression versus placebo during the OGTT, suggesting compensatory lipid mobilization for energy production when glucose availability was reduced because of glucosuria. The expected increase in glucagon with DAPA did not occur with DAPA + ExQW coadministration. Bodyweight loss with DAPA + ExQW was associated with the SNP variant rs10010131 A allele, lower baseline adiposity (BMI), and lower baseline insulin secretion (IGI). These findings require further validation. AstraZeneca.
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