1. |
|
|
2. |
|
|
3. |
|
|
4. |
|
|
5. |
- Meisgen, S, et al.
(author)
-
Auxilin is a novel susceptibility gene for congenital heart block which directly impacts fetal heart function
- 2022
-
In: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 81:8, s. 1151-1161
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) may develop after transplacental transfer of maternal autoantibodies with cardiac manifestations (congenital heart block, CHB) including atrioventricular block, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies. The association with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies is well established, but a recurrence rate of only 12%–16% despite persisting maternal autoantibodies suggests that additional factors are required for CHB development. Here, we identify fetal genetic variants conferring risk of CHB and elucidate their effects on cardiac function.MethodsA genome-wide association study was performed in families with at least one case of CHB. Gene expression was analysed by microarrays, RNA sequencing and PCR and protein expression by western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Calcium regulation and connectivity were analysed in primary cardiomyocytes and cells induced from pleuripotent stem cells. Fetal heart performance was analysed by Doppler/echocardiography.ResultsWe identified DNAJC6 as a novel fetal susceptibility gene, with decreased cardiac expression of DNAJC6 associated with the disease risk genotype. We further demonstrate that fetal cardiomyocytes deficient in auxilin, the protein encoded by DNAJC6, have abnormal connectivity and Ca2+ homoeostasis in culture, as well as decreased cell surface expression of the Cav1.3 calcium channel. Doppler echocardiography of auxilin-deficient fetal mice revealed cardiac NLE abnormalities in utero, including abnormal heart rhythm with atrial and ventricular ectopias, as well as a prolonged atrioventricular time intervals.ConclusionsOur study identifies auxilin as the first genetic susceptibility factor in NLE modulating cardiac function, opening new avenues for the development of screening and therapeutic strategies in CHB.
|
|
6. |
- Mofors, J, et al.
(author)
-
Comorbidity and long-term outcome in patients with congenital heart block and their siblings exposed to Ro/SSA autoantibodies in utero
- 2019
-
In: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 78:5, s. 696-703
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Congenital heart block (CHB) may develop in fetuses of Ro/SSA autoantibody-positive women. Given the rarity of CHB, information on comorbidity and complications later in life is difficult to systematically collect for large groups of patients. We therefore used nation-wide healthcare registers to investigate comorbidity and outcomes in patients with CHB and their siblings.MethodsData from patients with CHB (n= 119) and their siblings (n= 128), all born to anti-Ro/SSA-positive mothers, and from matched healthy controls (n= 1,190) and their siblings (n= 1,071), were retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Register. Analyses were performed by Cox proportional hazard modelling.ResultsIndividuals with CHB had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidity, with cardiomyopathy and/or heart failure observed in 20 (16.8%) patients versus 3 (0.3%) controls, yielding a HR of 70.0 (95% CI 20.8 to 235.4), and with a HR for cerebral infarction of 39.9 (95% CI 4.5 to 357.3). Patients with CHB also had a higher risk of infections. Pacemaker treatment was associated with a decreased risk of cerebral infarction but increased risks of cardiomyopathy/heart failure and infection. The risk of systemic connective tissue disorder was also increased in patients with CHB (HR 11.8, 95% CI 4.0 to 11.8), and both patients with CHB and their siblings had an increased risk to develop any of 15 common autoimmune conditions (HR 5.7, 95% CI 2.83 to 11.69 and 3.6, 95% CI 1.7 to 8.0, respectively).ConclusionsThe data indicate an increased risk of several cardiovascular, infectious and autoimmune diseases in patients with CHB, with the latter risk shared by their siblings.
|
|
7. |
- Mofors, J., et al.
(author)
-
Concomitant Ro/SSA and La/SSB antibodies are biomarkers for the risk of venous thromboembolism and cerebral infarction in primary Sjögren's syndrome
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 286:4, s. 458-468
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: To assess the risk of incident cardiovascular disease in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, overall and stratified by Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibody status.Methods: A cohort of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Sweden (n = 960) and matched controls from the general population (n = 9035) were included, and data extracted from the National Patient Register to identify events of myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and venous thromboembolism. Hazard ratios were estimated using cox proportional hazard regressions.Results: During a median follow‐up of 9.5 years, the overall hazard ratio (HR) was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2–2.1) for myocardial infarction, 1.2 (95% CI 0.9–1.7) for cerebral infarction and 2.1 (95% CI 1.6–2.9) for venous thromboembolism. Patients positive for both Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibodies had a substantially higher risk of cerebral infarction (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–2.9) and venous thromboembolism (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9–4.8) than the general population. These risks were not significantly increased in Ro/SSA‐ and La/SSB‐negative patients. Among autoantibody‐positive patients, the highest HR of cerebral infarction was seen after ≥10 years disease duration (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4–5.4), while the HR for venous thromboembolism was highest 0–5 years after disease diagnosis (HR 4.7, 95% CI 2.3–9.3) and remained high throughout disease duration.Conclusions: Primary Sjögren's syndrome is associated with a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and the presence of Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibodies identify the subgroup of patients carrying the highest risk. These findings suggest that monitoring and prevention of cardiovascular disease in this patient group should be considered.
|
|
8. |
|
|
9. |
- Mofors, J., et al.
(author)
-
Infections increase the risk of developing Sjögren's syndrome
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 285:6, s. 670-680
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Environmental factors have been suggested in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. We here investigated whether infections increase the risk of developing primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).Methods: Patients with pSS in Sweden (n = 945) and matched controls from the general population (n = 9048) were included, and data extracted from the National Patient Register to identify infections occurring before pSS diagnosis during a mean observational time of 16.0 years. Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression models. Sensitivity analyses were performed by varying exposure definition and adjusting for previous health care consumption.Results: A history of infection associated with an increased risk of pSS (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6–2.3). Infections were more prominently associated with the development of SSA/SSB autoantibody‐positive pSS (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0–3.5). When stratifying the analysis by organ system infected, respiratory infections increased the risk of developing pSS, both in patients with (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8–4.7) and without autoantibodies (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–3.8), whilst skin and urogenital infections only significantly associated with the development of autoantibody‐positive pSS (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.5 and OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7–4.2). Furthermore, a dose–response relationship was observed for infections and a risk to develop pSS with Ro/SSA and La/SSB antibodies. Gastrointestinal infections were not significantly associated with a risk of pSS.Conclusions: Infections increase the risk of developing pSS, most prominently SSA/SSB autoantibody‐positive disease, suggesting that microbial triggers of immunity may partake in the pathogenetic process of pSS.
|
|
10. |
|
|