Identification of novel genetic variants associated with cardiorespiratory fitness.

INTRODUCTION: Low maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a strong and independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. For other CVD risk factors, numerous genetic association studies have been performed, revealing promising risk markers and new therapeutic targets. However, large genomic association studies on VO2max are still lacking, despite the fact that VO2max has a large genetic component. METHODS: We performed a genetic association study on 123.545 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and directly measured VO2max in 3470 individuals (exploration cohort). Candidate SNPs from the exploration cohort were analyzed in a validation cohort of 718 individuals, in addition to 7 wild-card SNPs. Sub-analyses were performed for each gender. Validated SNPs were used to create a genetic score for VO2max. In silico analyses and genotype-phenotype databases were used to predict physiological function of the SNPs. RESULTS: In the exploration cohort, 41 SNPs were associated with VO2max (p < 5.0 ∗ 10-4). Six of the candidate SNPs were associated with VO2max also in the validation cohort, in addition to three wild-card SNPs (p < 0.05, in men, women or both). The cumulative number of high-VO2max-SNPs correlated negatively with CVD risk factors, e.g. waist-circumference, visceral fat, fat %, cholesterol levels and BMI. In silico analysis indicated that several of the VO2max-SNPs influence gene expression in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and heart. CONCLUSION: We discovered and validated new SNPs associated with VO2max and proposed possible links between VO2max and CVD. Studies combining several large cohorts with directly measured VO2max are needed to identify more SNPs associated with this phenotype.

Catalyzing Transcriptomics Research in Cardiovascular Disease: The CardioRNA COST Action CA17129.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide and, despite continuous advances, better diagnostic and prognostic tools, as well as therapy, are needed. The human transcriptome, which is the set of all RNA produced in a cell, is much more complex than previously thought and the lack of dialogue between researchers and industrials and consensus on guidelines to generate data make it harder to compare and reproduce results. This European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action aims to accelerate the understanding of transcriptomics in CVD and further the translation of experimental data into usable applications to improve personalized medicine in this field by creating an interdisciplinary network. It aims to provide opportunities for collaboration between stakeholders from complementary backgrounds, allowing the functions of different RNAs and their interactions to be more rapidly deciphered in the cardiovascular context for translation into the clinic, thus fostering personalized medicine and meeting a current public health challenge. Thus, this Action will advance studies on cardiovascular transcriptomics, generate innovative projects, and consolidate the leadership of European research groups in the field.COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organization for research and innovation networks (www.cost.eu).

Reversible pulmonary trunk banding: IX. G6PD activity of adult goat myocardium submitted to ventricular retraining.

OBJECTIVE: Increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity has been demonstrated in heart failure. This study sought to assess myocardial glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in retraining of the subpulmonary ventricle of adult goats. METHODS: Eighteen adult goats were divided into three groups: traditional (fixed banding), sham, and intermittent (adjustable banding, daily 12-hour systolic overload). Systolic overload (70% of systemic pressure) was maintained during a 4-week period. Right ventricle, pulmonary artery and aortic pressures were measured throughout the study. All animals were submitted to echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluations throughout the protocol. After the study period, the animals were killed for morphological and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity assessment. RESULTS: A 55.7% and 36.7% increase occurred in the intermittent and traditional right ventricle masses, respectively, when compared with the sham group (P<0.05), despite less exposure of intermittent group to systolic overload. No significant changes were observed in myocardial water content in the 3 groups (P=0.27). A 37.2% increase was found in right ventricle wall thickness of intermittent group, compared to sham and traditional groups (P<0.05). Right ventricle glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was elevated in the traditional group, when compared to sham and intermittent groups (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Both study groups have developed similar right ventricle hypertrophy, regardless less systolic overload exposure of intermittent group. Traditional systolic overload for adult subpulmonary ventricle retraining causes upregulation of myocardial glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. It may suggest that the undesirable "pathologic systolic overload" is influenced by activation of penthose pathway and cytosolic Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate availability. This altered energy substrate metabolism can elevate levels of free radicals by Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of heart failure.

Bandagem ajustável do tronco pulmonar: IX: atividade da G6PD do miocárdio de cabras adultas submetido ao treinamento ventricular / Reversible pulmonary trunk banding: IX. G6PD activity of adult goat myocardium submitted to ventricular retraining

OBJETIVO: O aumento da atividade miocárdica da Glicose 6-Fosfato Desidrogenase tem sido demonstrado na insuficiência cardíaca. Este estudo avalia a atividade miocárdica da Glicose 6-Fosfato Desidrogenase no treinamento do ventrículo subpulmonar de cabras adultas. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizadas 18 cabras adultas, divididas em três grupos: convencional (bandagem fixa), sham e intermitente (bandagem ajustável; 12 horas diárias de sobrecarga). A sobrecarga sistólica (70% da pressão sistêmica) foi mantida durante quatro semanas. As avaliações hemodinâmica e ecocardiográfica foram realizadas durante todo o estudo. Depois de cumprido o protocolo, os animais foram mortos para avaliação morfológica e da atividade da Glicose 6-Fosfato Desidrogenase dos ventrículos. RESULTADOS: Apesar de haver sobrecarga sistólica proporcionalmente menor no ventrículo subpulmonar do grupo intermitente (P=0,001), ambos os grupos de estudo apresentaram aumento da massa muscular de magnitude similar. Os grupos intermitente e convencional apresentaram aumento da massa de 55,7% e 36,7% (P<0,05), respectivamente, em comparação ao grupo sham. O conteúdo de água do miocárdio não variou entre os grupos estudados (P=0,27). O ecocardiograma demonstrou maior aumento (37,2%) na espessura do ventrículo subpulmonar do grupo intermitente, em relação aos grupos sham e convencional (P<0,05). Foi observada maior atividade da Glicose 6-Fosfato Desidrogenase na hipertrofia miocárdica do ventrículo subpulmonar do grupo convencional, comparada aos grupos sham e intermitente (P=0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Ambos os grupos de treinamento ventricular desenvolveram hipertrofia ventricular, a despeito do menor tempo de sobrecarga sistólica no grupo intermitente. A maior atividade de Glicose 6-Fosfato Desidrogenase observada no grupo convencional pode refletir um desequilíbrio redox, com maior produção de fosfato de dinucleotídeo de nicotinamida e adenina e glutationa reduzida, um mecanismo importante da fisiopatologia da insuficiência cardíaca.

OBJECTIVE: Increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity has been demonstrated in heart failure. This study sought to assess myocardial glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in retraining of the subpulmonary ventricle of adult goats. METHODS: Eighteen adult goats were divided into three groups: traditional (fixed banding), sham, and intermittent (adjustable banding, daily 12-hour systolic overload). Systolic overload (70% of systemic pressure) was maintained during a 4-week period. Right ventricle, pulmonary artery and aortic pressures were measured throughout the study. All animals were submitted to echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluations throughout the protocol. After the study period, the animals were killed for morphological and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity assessment. RESULTS: A 55.7% and 36.7% increase occurred in the intermittent and traditional right ventricle masses, respectively, when compared with the sham group (P<0.05), despite less exposure of intermittent group to systolic overload. No significant changes were observed in myocardial water content in the 3 groups (P=0.27). A 37.2% increase was found in right ventricle wall thickness of intermittent group, compared to sham and traditional groups (P<0.05). Right ventricle glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was elevated in the traditional group, when compared to sham and intermittent groups (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Both study groups have developed similar right ventricle hypertrophy, regardless less systolic overload exposure of intermittent group. Traditional systolic overload for adult subpulmonary ventricle retraining causes upregulation of myocardial glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. It may suggest that the undesirable "pathologic systolic overload" is influenced by activation of penthose pathway and cytosolic Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate availability. This altered energy substrate metabolism can elevate levels of free radicals by Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of heart failure.