Urinary Proteomics and Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have addressed plasma proteomics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, limited data are available on the prognostic value of urinary proteomics. The objective of our study was to identify urinary proteins/peptides associated with death and heart failure admission in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population included participants enrolled in TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial). The relationship between urine protein levels and the risk of death or heart failure admission was assessed using Cox regression, in both nonadjusted analyses and adjusting for urine creatinine levels, and the MAGGIC (Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure) score. A total of 426 (12.4%) TOPCAT participants had urinary protein data and were included. There were 40 urinary proteins/peptides significantly associated with death or heart failure admission in nonadjusted analyses, 21 of which were also significant adjusted analyses. Top proteins in the adjusted analysis included ANGPTL2 (angiopoietin-like protein 2) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.5731 [95% CI, 0.47-0.7]; P=3.13E-05), AMY2A (α amylase 2A) (HR, 0.5496 [95% CI, 0.44-0.69]; P=0.0001), and DNASE1 (deoxyribonuclease-1) (HR, 0.5704 [95% CI, 0.46-0.71]; P=0.0002). Higher urinary levels of proteins involved in fibrosis (collagen VI α-1, collagen XV α-1), metabolism (pancreatic α-amylase 2A/B, mannosidase α class 1A member 1), and inflammation (heat shock protein family D member 1, inducible T cell costimulatory ligand) were associated with a lower risk of death or heart failure admission. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies several novel associations between urinary proteins/peptides and outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Many of these associations are independent of clinical risk scores and may aid in risk stratification in this patient population.

Proteomic Associations of Adverse Outcomes in Human Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Identifying novel molecular drivers of disease progression in heart failure (HF) is a high-priority goal that may provide new therapeutic targets to improve patient outcomes. The authors investigated the relationship between plasma proteins and adverse outcomes in HF and their putative causal role using Mendelian randomization. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors measured 4776 plasma proteins among 1964 participants with HF with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in PHFS (Penn Heart Failure Study). Assessed were the observational relationship between plasma proteins and (1) all-cause death or (2) death or HF-related hospital admission (DHFA). The authors replicated nominally significant associations in the Washington University HF registry (N=1080). Proteins significantly associated with outcomes were the subject of 2-sample Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. After correction for multiple testing, 243 and 126 proteins were found to be significantly associated with death and DHFA, respectively. These included small ubiquitin-like modifier 2 (standardized hazard ratio [sHR], 1.56; P<0.0001), growth differentiation factor-15 (sHR, 1.68; P<0.0001) for death, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-like protein (sHR, 1.40; P<0.0001), and pulmonary-associated surfactant protein C (sHR, 1.24; P<0.0001) for DHFA. In pathway analyses, top canonical pathways associated with death and DHFA included fibrotic, inflammatory, and coagulation pathways. Genomic analyses provided evidence of nominally significant associations between levels of 6 genetically predicted proteins with DHFA and 11 genetically predicted proteins with death. CONCLUSIONS: This study implicates multiple novel proteins in HF and provides preliminary evidence of associations between genetically predicted plasma levels of 17 candidate proteins and the risk for adverse outcomes in human HF.

Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk.

High protein intake is common in western societies and is often promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle; however, amino-acid-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in macrophages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. In a series of clinical studies on male and female participants ( NCT03946774 and NCT03994367 ) that involved graded amounts of protein ingestion together with detailed plasma amino acid analysis and human monocyte/macrophage experiments, we identify leucine as the key activator of mTOR signalling in macrophages. We describe a threshold effect of high protein intake and circulating leucine on monocytes/macrophages wherein only protein in excess of ∼25 g per meal induces mTOR activation and functional effects. By designing specific diets modified in protein and leucine content representative of the intake in the general population, we confirm this threshold effect in mouse models and find ingestion of protein in excess of ∼22% of dietary energy requirements drives atherosclerosis in male mice. These data demonstrate a mechanistic basis for the adverse impact of excessive dietary protein on cardiovascular risk.

Risks and benefits of intermittent fasting for the aging cardiovascular system.

Population aging and the associated increase in cardiovascular disease rates pose serious threats to global public health. Different forms of fasting have become an increasingly attractive strategy to directly address aging and potentially limit or delay the onset of cardiovascular diseases. A growing number of experimental studies and clinical trials indicate that the amount and timing of food intake as well as the daily time window during which food is consumed, are crucial determinants of cardiovascular health. Indeed, intermittent fasting counteracts the molecular hallmarks of cardiovascular aging and promotes different aspects of cardiometabolic health, including blood pressure and glycemic control, as well as body weight reduction. Here, we summarize current evidence from randomized clinical trials of intermittent fasting on body weight and composition as well as cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. Moreover, we critically discuss the preventive and therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting, but also possible detrimental effects in the context of cardiovascular aging and related disease. We delve into the physiological mechanisms through which intermittent fasting might improve cardiovascular health, and raise important factors to consider in the design of clinical trials examining the efficacy of intermittent fasting to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events among aged individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. We conclude that despite growing evidence and interest among both the lay and scientific communities in the cardiovascular health-improving effects of intermittent fasting, further research efforts and appropriate caution are warranted before broadly implementing intermittent fasting regimens, especially in the elderly.

Proteomic Associations of NT-proBNP (N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide) in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels are variably elevated in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), even in the presence of increased left ventricular filling pressures. NT-proBNP levels are prognostic in HFpEF and have been used as an inclusion criterion for several recent randomized clinical trials. However, the underlying biologic differences between HFpEF participants with high and low NT-proBNP levels remain to be fully understood. METHODS: We measured 4928 proteins using an aptamer-based proteomic assay (SOMAScan) in available plasma samples from 2 cohorts: (1) Participants with HFpEF enrolled in the PHFS (Penn Heart Failure Study; n=253); (2) TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial) participants in the Americas (n=218). We assessed the relationship between SOMAScan-derived plasma NT-proBNP and levels of other proteins available in the SOMAScan assay version 4 using robust linear regression, with correction for multiple comparisons, followed by pathway analysis. RESULTS: NT-proBNP levels exhibited prominent proteome-wide associations in PHFS and TOPCAT cohorts. Proteins most strongly associated with NT-proBNP in both cohorts included SVEP1 (sushi, von Willebrand factor type-A, epidermal growth factor, and pentraxin domain containing 1; ßTOPCAT=0.539; P<0.0001; ßPHFS=0.516; P<0.0001) and ANGPT2 (angiopoietin 2; ßTOPCAT=0.571; P<0.0001; ßPHFS=0.459; P<0.0001). Canonical pathway analysis demonstrated consistent associations with multiple pathways related to fibrosis and inflammation. These included hepatic fibrosis and inhibition of matrix metalloproteases. Analyses using cut points corresponding to estimated quantitative concentrations of 360 pg/mL (and 480 pg/mL in atrial fibrillation) revealed similar proteomic associations. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating NT-proBNP levels exhibit prominent proteomic associations in HFpEF. Our findings suggest that higher NT-proBNP levels in HFpEF are a marker of fibrosis and inflammation. These findings will aid the interpretation of NT-proBNP levels in HFpEF and may guide the selection of participants in future HFpEF clinical trials.

Sirtuin3 ensures the metabolic plasticity of neurotransmission during glucose deprivation.

Neurotransmission is an energetically expensive process that underlies cognition. During intense electrical activity or dietary restrictions, the glucose level in the brain plummets, forcing neurons to utilize alternative fuels. However, the molecular mechanisms of neuronal metabolic plasticity remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that glucose-deprived neurons activate the CREB and PGC1α transcriptional program, which induces expression of the mitochondrial deacetylase Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) both in vitro and in vivo. We show that Sirt3 localizes to axonal mitochondria and stimulates mitochondrial oxidative capacity in hippocampal nerve terminals. Sirt3 plays an essential role in sustaining synaptic transmission in the absence of glucose by providing metabolic support for the retrieval of synaptic vesicles after release. These results demonstrate that the transcriptional induction of Sirt3 facilitates the metabolic plasticity of synaptic transmission.

Cardiac radiation improves ventricular function in mice and humans with cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Rapidly dividing cells are more sensitive to radiation therapy (RT) than quiescent cells. In the failing myocardium, macrophages and fibroblasts mediate collateral tissue injury, leading to progressive myocardial remodeling, fibrosis, and pump failure. Because these cells divide more rapidly than cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized that macrophages and fibroblasts would be more susceptible to lower doses of radiation and that cardiac radiation could therefore attenuate myocardial remodeling. METHODS: In three independent murine heart failure models, including models of metabolic stress, ischemia, and pressure overload, mice underwent 5 Gy cardiac radiation or sham treatment followed by echocardiography. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and non-invasive PET imaging were employed to evaluate cardiac macrophages and fibroblasts. Serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) from patients with cardiomyopathy treated with 25 Gy cardiac RT for ventricular tachycardia (VT) was evaluated to determine changes in cardiac function. FINDINGS: In murine heart failure models, cardiac radiation significantly increased LV ejection fraction and reduced end-diastolic volume vs. sham. Radiation resulted in reduced mRNA abundance of B-type natriuretic peptide and fibrotic genes, and histological assessment of the LV showed reduced fibrosis. PET and flow cytometry demonstrated reductions in pro-inflammatory macrophages, and immunofluorescence demonstrated reduced proliferation of macrophages and fibroblasts with RT. In patients who were treated with RT for VT, cMRI demonstrated decreases in LV end-diastolic volume and improvements in LV ejection fraction early after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 5 Gy cardiac radiation attenuates cardiac remodeling in mice and humans with heart failure. FUNDING: NIH, ASTRO, AHA, Longer Life Foundation.

Heterogeneous cardiac sympathetic innervation gradients promote arrhythmogenesis in murine dilated cardiomyopathy.

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in heart failure are enhanced by sympathoexcitation. However, radiotracer studies of catecholamine uptake in failing human hearts demonstrate a proclivity for VAs in patients with reduced cardiac sympathetic innervation. We hypothesized that this counterintuitive finding is explained by heterogeneous loss of sympathetic nerves in the failing heart. In a murine model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), delayed PET imaging of sympathetic nerve density using the catecholamine analog [11C]meta-Hydroxyephedrine demonstrated global hypoinnervation in ventricular myocardium. Although reduced, sympathetic innervation in 2 distinct DCM models invariably exhibited transmural (epicardial to endocardial) gradients, with the endocardium being devoid of sympathetic nerve fibers versus controls. Further, the severity of transmural innervation gradients was correlated with VAs. Transmural innervation gradients were also identified in human left ventricular free wall samples from DCM versus controls. We investigated mechanisms underlying this relationship by in silico studies in 1D, 2D, and 3D models of failing and normal human hearts, finding that arrhythmogenesis increased as heterogeneity in sympathetic innervation worsened. Specifically, both DCM-induced myocyte electrical remodeling and spatially inhomogeneous innervation gradients synergistically worsened arrhythmogenesis. Thus, heterogeneous innervation gradients in DCM promoted arrhythmogenesis. Restoration of homogeneous sympathetic innervation in the failing heart may reduce VAs.

Distinct Inflammatory Milieu in Patients With Right Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Right heart failure (RHF) is associated with worse clinical outcomes. In addition to hemodynamic perturbations, the syndrome of RHF involves liver congestion and dysfunction. The mechanisms that underlie heart-liver interactions are poorly understood and may involve secreted factors. As a first step to understand the cardiohepatic axis, we sought to elucidate the circulating inflammatory milieu in patients with RHF. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins during right heart catheterization from 3 groups of patients: (1) controls with normal cardiac function, (2) patients with heart failure who did not meet all criteria of RHF, and (3) patients who met prespecified criteria for RHF defined by hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters. We performed a multiplex protein assay to survey levels of several circulating markers and analyzed their association with mortality and the need for a left ventricular assist device or heart transplant. Finally, we leveraged publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data and performed tissue imaging to evaluate the expression of these factors in the liver. RESULTS: In this study, RHF was associated with elevated levels of a subset of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors compared with controls. In particular, soluble CD163 (cluster of differentiation 163) and CXCL12 (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 12) were higher in RHF and predicted left ventricular assist device/transplant-free survival in an independent validation cohort. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry of human liver biopsies suggest that these factors are expressed by Kupffer cells and may be liver derived. CONCLUSIONS: RHF is associated with a distinct circulating inflammatory profile. Soluble CD163 and CXCL12 are novel biomarkers that can prognosticate patient outcomes. Future studies to define how these molecules influence heart failure phenotypes and disease progression may lead to new approaches to the management of patients with RHF.

A Distinct Inflammatory Milieu in Patients with Right Heart Failure.

Background: Right heart failure (RHF) is associated with worse clinical outcomes. In addition to hemodynamic perturbations, the syndrome of RHF involves liver congestion and dysfunction. The mechanisms that underlie heart-liver interactions are poorly understood and may involve secreted factors. As a first step to understand the cardiohepatic axis, we sought to elucidate the circulating inflammatory milieu in patients with RHF. Methods: Blood samples were collected from the IVC and hepatic veins during right heart catheterization from 3 groups of patients: 1) controls with normal cardiac function, 2) patients with heart failure (HF) who did not meet all criteria of RHF, and 3) patients who met prespecified criteria for RHF defined by hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters. We performed multiplex protein assay to survey levels of several circulating markers and analyzed their association with mortality and need for left ventricular assist device or heart transplant. Finally, we leveraged publicly available single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data and performed tissue imaging to evaluate expression of these factors in the liver. Results: In this study of 43 patients, RHF was associated with elevated levels of a subset of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors compared to controls. In particular, soluble CD163 (sCD163) and CXCL12 were higher in RHF and predicted survival in an independent validation cohort. Furthermore, scRNAseq and immunohistochemistry of human liver biopsies suggest that these factors are expressed by Kupffer cells and may be liver derived. Conclusions: RHF is associated with a distinct circulating inflammatory profile. sCD163 and CXCL12 are novel biomarkers that can prognosticate patient outcomes. Future studies to define how these molecules influence HF phenotypes and disease progression may lead to new approaches to management of patients with RHF.

A Critical Role for ERO1α in Arterial Thrombosis and Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Platelet adhesion and aggregation play a crucial role in arterial thrombosis and ischemic stroke. Here, we identify platelet ERO1α (endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1α) as a novel regulator of Ca2+ signaling and a potential pharmacological target for treating thrombotic diseases. METHODS: Intravital microscopy, animal disease models, and a wide range of cell biological studies were utilized to demonstrate the pathophysiological role of ERO1α in arteriolar and arterial thrombosis and to prove the importance of platelet ERO1α in platelet activation and aggregation. Mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and biochemical studies were used to investigate the molecular mechanism. We used novel blocking antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors to study whether ERO1α can be targeted to attenuate thrombotic conditions. RESULTS: Megakaryocyte-specific or global deletion of Ero1α in mice similarly reduced platelet thrombus formation in arteriolar and arterial thrombosis without affecting tail bleeding times and blood loss following vascular injury. We observed that platelet ERO1α localized exclusively in the dense tubular system and promoted Ca2+ mobilization, platelet activation, and aggregation. Platelet ERO1α directly interacted with STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1) and SERCA2 (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2) and regulated their functions. Such interactions were impaired in mutant STIM1-Cys49/56Ser and mutant SERCA2-Cys875/887Ser. We found that ERO1α modified an allosteric Cys49-Cys56 disulfide bond in STIM1 and a Cys875-Cys887 disulfide bond in SERCA2, contributing to Ca2+ store content and increasing cytosolic Ca2+ levels during platelet activation. Inhibition of Ero1α with small-molecule inhibitors but not blocking antibodies attenuated arteriolar and arterial thrombosis and reduced infarct volume following focal brain ischemia in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ERO1α acts as a thiol oxidase for Ca2+ signaling molecules, STIM1 and SERCA2, and enhances cytosolic Ca2+ levels, promoting platelet activation and aggregation. Our study provides evidence that ERO1α may be a potential target to reduce thrombotic events.

JMJD6 protects against isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy via inhibition of NF-κB activation by demethylating R149 of the p65 subunit.

Histone modification plays an important role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In this study we investigated the role of a histone arginine demethylase, Jumonji C domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO, 1.2 mg·kg-1·d-1) for a week. At the end of the experiment, the rats underwent echocardiography, followed by euthanasia and heart collection. We found that JMJD6 levels were compensatorily increased in ISO-induced hypertrophic cardiac tissues, but reduced in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Furthermore, we demonstrated that JMJD6 overexpression significantly attenuated ISO-induced hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) evidenced by the decreased cardiomyocyte surface area and hypertrophic genes expression. Cardiac-specific JMJD6 overexpression in rats protected the hearts against ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and rescued cardiac function. Conversely, depletion of JMJD6 by single-guide RNA (sgRNA) exacerbated ISO-induced hypertrophic responses in NRCMs. We revealed that JMJD6 interacted with NF-κB p65 in cytoplasm and reduced nuclear levels of p65 under hypertrophic stimulation in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, JMJD6 bound to p65 and demethylated p65 at the R149 residue to inhibit the nuclear translocation of p65, thus inactivating NF-κB signaling and protecting against pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, we found that JMJD6 demethylated histone H3R8, which might be a new histone substrate of JMJD6. These results suggest that JMJD6 may be a potential target for therapeutic interventions in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Renin-Angiotensin System Modulation With Synthetic Angiotensin (1-7) and Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Biased Ligand in Adults With COVID-19: Two Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: Preclinical models suggest dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the relative activity of angiotensin II compared with angiotensin (1-7) and may be an important contributor to COVID-19 pathophysiology. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAS modulation using 2 investigational RAS agents, TXA-127 (synthetic angiotensin [1-7]) and TRV-027 (an angiotensin II type 1 receptor-biased ligand), that are hypothesized to potentiate the action of angiotensin (1-7) and mitigate the action of the angiotensin II. Design, Setting, and Participants: Two randomized clinical trials including adults hospitalized with acute COVID-19 and new-onset hypoxemia were conducted at 35 sites in the US between July 22, 2021, and April 20, 2022; last follow-up visit: July 26, 2022. Interventions: A 0.5-mg/kg intravenous infusion of TXA-127 once daily for 5 days or placebo. A 12-mg/h continuous intravenous infusion of TRV-027 for 5 days or placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was oxygen-free days, an ordinal outcome that classifies a patient's status at day 28 based on mortality and duration of supplemental oxygen use; an adjusted odds ratio (OR) greater than 1.0 indicated superiority of the RAS agent vs placebo. A key secondary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality. Safety outcomes included allergic reaction, new kidney replacement therapy, and hypotension. Results: Both trials met prespecified early stopping criteria for a low probability of efficacy. Of 343 patients in the TXA-127 trial (226 [65.9%] aged 31-64 years, 200 [58.3%] men, 225 [65.6%] White, and 274 [79.9%] not Hispanic), 170 received TXA-127 and 173 received placebo. Of 290 patients in the TRV-027 trial (199 [68.6%] aged 31-64 years, 168 [57.9%] men, 195 [67.2%] White, and 225 [77.6%] not Hispanic), 145 received TRV-027 and 145 received placebo. Compared with placebo, both TXA-127 (unadjusted mean difference, -2.3 [95% CrI, -4.8 to 0.2]; adjusted OR, 0.88 [95% CrI, 0.59 to 1.30]) and TRV-027 (unadjusted mean difference, -2.4 [95% CrI, -5.1 to 0.3]; adjusted OR, 0.74 [95% CrI, 0.48 to 1.13]) resulted in no difference in oxygen-free days. In the TXA-127 trial, 28-day all-cause mortality occurred in 22 of 163 patients (13.5%) in the TXA-127 group vs 22 of 166 patients (13.3%) in the placebo group (adjusted OR, 0.83 [95% CrI, 0.41 to 1.66]). In the TRV-027 trial, 28-day all-cause mortality occurred in 29 of 141 patients (20.6%) in the TRV-027 group vs 18 of 140 patients (12.9%) in the placebo group (adjusted OR, 1.52 [95% CrI, 0.75 to 3.08]). The frequency of the safety outcomes was similar with either TXA-127 or TRV-027 vs placebo. Conclusions and Relevance: In adults with severe COVID-19, RAS modulation (TXA-127 or TRV-027) did not improve oxygen-free days vs placebo. These results do not support the hypotheses that pharmacological interventions that selectively block the angiotensin II type 1 receptor or increase angiotensin (1-7) improve outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04924660.

Apolipoprotein M Attenuates Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity and Lysosomal Injury.

Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) binds sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and is inversely associated with mortality in human heart failure (HF). Here, we show that anthracyclines such as doxorubicin (Dox) reduce circulating ApoM in mice and humans, that ApoM is inversely associated with mortality in patients with anthracycline-induced heart failure, and ApoM heterozygosity in mice increases Dox-induced mortality. In the setting of Dox stress, our studies suggest ApoM can help sustain myocardial autophagic flux in a post-transcriptional manner, attenuate Dox cardiotoxicity, and prevent lysosomal injury.