1. |
- Fernandez, C., et al.
(author)
-
Plasma levels of the proprotein convertase furin and incidence of diabetes and mortality
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820. ; 284:4, s. 377-387
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Diabetes mellitus is linked to premature mortality of virtually all causes. Furin is a proprotein convertase broadly involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis; however, little is known about its role in the development of diabetes mellitus and risk of premature mortality. Objectives: To test if fasting plasma concentration of furin is associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and mortality. Methods: Overnight fasted plasma furin levels were measured at baseline examination in 4678 individuals from the population-based prospective Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. We studied the relation of plasma furin levels with metabolic and hemodynamic traits. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the association between baseline plasma furin levels and incidence of diabetes mellitus and mortality during 21.3–21.7 years follow-up. Results: An association was observed between quartiles of furin concentration at baseline and body mass index, blood pressure and plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, LDL and HDL cholesterol (|0.11| ≤ β ≤ |0.31|, P < 0.001). Plasma furin (hazard ratio [HR] per one standard deviation increment of furin) was predictive of future diabetes mellitus (727 events; HR = 1.24, CI = 1.14–1.36, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, use of antihypertensive treatment, alcohol intake and fasting plasma level of glucose, insulin and lipoproteins cholesterol. Furin was also independently related to the risk of all-cause mortality (1229 events; HR = 1.12, CI = 1.05–1.19, P = 0.001) after full multivariable adjustment. Conclusion: Individuals with high plasma furin concentration have a pronounced dysmetabolic phenotype and elevated risk of diabetes mellitus and premature mortality.
|
|
2. |
- Kelloniemi, A., et al.
(author)
-
The Early-Onset Myocardial Infarction Associated PHACTR1 Gene Regulates Skeletal and Cardiac Alpha-Actin Gene Expression
- 2015
-
In: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) locus is a very commonly identified hit in genome-wide association studies investigating coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction (MI). However, the function of PHACTR1 in the heart is still unknown. We characterized the mechanisms regulating Phactr1 expression in the heart, used adenoviral gene delivery to investigate the effects of Phactr1 on cardiac function, and analyzed the relationship between MI associated PHACTR1 allele and cardiac function in human subjects. Phactr1 mRNA and protein levels were markedly reduced (60%, P<0.01 and 90%, P<0.001, respectively) at 1 day after MI in rats. When the direct myocardial effects of Phactr1 were studied, the skeletal a-actin to cardiac a-actin isoform ratio was significantly higher (1.5-fold, P<0.05) at 3 days but 40% lower (P<0.05) at 2 weeks after adenovirus-mediated Phactr1 gene delivery into the anterior wall of the left ventricle. Similarly, the skeletal a-actin to cardiac a-actin ratio was lower at 2 weeks in infarcted hearts overexpressing Phactr1. In cultured neonatal cardiac myocytes, adenovirus-mediated Phactr1 overexpression for 48 hours markedly increased the skeletal a-actin to cardiac a-actin ratio, this being associated with an enhanced DNA binding activity of serum response factor. Phactr1 overexpression exerted no major effects on the expression of other cardiac genes or LV structure and function in normal and infarcted hearts during 2 weeks' follow-up period. In human subjects, MI associated PHACTR1 allele was not associated significantly with cardiac function (n = 1550). Phactr1 seems to regulate the skeletal to cardiac a-actin isoform ratio.
|
|
3. |
- Moilanen, A. M., et al.
(author)
-
WDR12, a Member of Nucleolar PeBoW-Complex, Is Up-Regulated in Failing Hearts and Causes Deterioration of Cardiac Function
- 2015
-
In: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims In a recent genome-wide association study, WD-repeat domain 12 (WDR12) was associated with early-onset myocardial infarction (MI). However, the function of WDR12 in the heart is unknown. We characterized cardiac expression of WDR12, used adenovirus-mediated WDR12 gene delivery to examine effects of WDR12 on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and analyzed relationship between MI associated WDR12 allele and cardiac function in human subjects. LV WDR12 protein levels were increased in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and rats post-infarction. In normal adult rat hearts, WDR12 gene delivery into the anterior wall of the LV decreased interventricular septum diastolic and systolic thickness and increased the diastolic and systolic diameters of the LV. Moreover, LV ejection fraction (9.1%, P<0.05) and fractional shortening (12.2%, P<0.05) were declined. The adverse effects of WDR12 gene delivery on cardiac function were associated with decreased cellular proliferation, activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/heat shock protein (HSP) 27 pathway, and increased protein levels of Block of proliferation 1 (BOP1), essential for ribosome biogenesis. Post-infarction WDR12 gene delivery decreased E/A ratio (32%, P<0.05) suggesting worsening of diastolic function. In human subjects, MI associated WDR12 allele was associated significantly with diastolic dysfunction and left atrial size. WDR12 triggers distinct deterioration of cardiac function in adult rat heart and the MI associated WDR12 variant is associated with diastolic dysfunction in human subjects.
|
|