Associations among periostin gene polymorphisms, clinical parameters and heart failure: a case-control study in 1104 Chinese individuals

Knockdown of TGFB2 Attenuates Ischemic Heart Failure by Inhibiting Apoptosis

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from cardiac overload and injury. The molecular mechanisms underlying ischemic HF remain unclear. Using the GSE116250 and GSE203160 datasets, we screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ischemic HF, identifying 132 overlapping genes. Through the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, we screened nine hub genes-SPP1, POSTN, CCN2, FGF7, OGN, BMP2, LUM, TGFB2, and BMP7-that may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for HF. FGF7 and BMP7 expression levels were reduced, while TGFB2, OGN, and CCN2 expression levels were elevated in rat models of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Notably, Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry showed that TGFB2 knockdown promoted viability and inhibited apoptosis in oxygen glucose deprivation-induced H9c2 cells. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that TGFB2 knockdown decreased cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels while increasing Bcl-2 protein expression. These findings reveal that TGFB2 knockdown mitigates ischemic HF by suppressing apoptosis, offering novel insights into the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying HF.

Periostin in the relation between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease: A pilot randomized clinical study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of periodontal treatment on markers of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and circulating levels of periostin.

BACKGROUND

Periostin is necessary for periodontal stability, but it is highly present in atherosclerotic plaques. Treatment of periodontal disease, with low levels of local periostin, is thought to reduce systemic levels of periostin. Thus, this may contribute to cardiovascular health.

METHODS

A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to include patients with severe periodontal disease and history of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum were collected before and after periodontal treatment by periodontal surgery or non-surgical therapy. The levels of several markers of inflammation and cardiovascular damage were evaluated including CRP, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-10, MIP-1α, periostin, and TNF-α in GCF and CRP, Fibrinogen, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, L-Selectin, MIP-1α, Periostin, TNF-α, and vWF in serum.

RESULTS

A total of 22 patients with an average of 56 years old were recruited for participating in this study. Twenty of them were male. Most of them (82%) had suffered an acute myocardial event and underwent surgery for placing 1, 2, or 3 stents in the coronary arteries more than 6 months ago but less than 1 year. The treatment of periodontal disease resulted in an overall improvement of all periodontal parameters. Regarding the evaluation of GCF and serum, a significant increase of periostin in the GCF was observed after periodontal surgery. In contrast, although other markers in GCF and serum improved, no significant correlations were found.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of periodontal disease through periodontal surgery induces a local and transient increase in the levels of periostin in the gingival crevicular fluid. The effects on systemic markers of inflammation and cardiovascular function have not been confirmed.

Periostin Circulating Levels and Genetic Variants in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Circulating periostin has been suggested as a possible biomarker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian studies. In the present study, we aimed to test its still controversial relevance in a Caucasian population. In patients with histologically-proven NAFLD (N. = 74; 10 with hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) plasma periostin concentrations were analyzed. POSTN haplotype analysis was based on rs9603226, rs3829365, and rs1029728. Hepatitis C patients (N. = 81, 7 HCC) and healthy subjects (N. = 27) were used as controls. The median plasma periostin concentration was 11.6 ng/mL without differences amongst groups; it was not influenced by age, liver fibrosis or steatosis. However, possession of haplotype two (rs9603226 = G, rs3829365 = C, rs1028728 = A) was associated with lower circulating periostin compared to other haplotypes. Moreover, periostin was higher in HCC patients. At multivariate analysis, HCC remained the only predictor of high periostin. In conclusion, plasma periostin concentrations in Caucasians NAFLD patients are not influenced by the degree of liver disease, but are significantly higher in HCC. Genetically-determined differences may account for some of the variability. These data suggest extreme caution in predicting a possible future role of periostin antagonists as a rational therapeutic alternative for NAFLD, but show a potential periostin role in the management of NAFLD-associated HCC.

Periostin as a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease: A systematic evidence landscape of preclinical and clinical studies

BACKGROUND

Periostin is a matricellular protein, expressed in various normal adult and fetal tissues. Recently, elevated periostin levels have been reported in heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke. However, there is lack of clinical studies to clarify the prognostic significance of systemic periostin levels in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review of published evidence on periostin and CVDs, and to clarify the diagnostic and prognostic significance of systemic periostin levels in CVDs.

METHODS

A systematic search on PubMed was performed to identify relevant articles from inception to December 2018. The eligible studies evaluating the periostin expression and periostin levels in animal and human studies.

RESULTS

A total of 24 relevant studies, including both animal and human data, were included. Periostin is significantly observed in myocardium tissue of failing hearts compared with control, and is also expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. Systemic periostin levels were significantly correlated with cardiac function and severity of CVD in several studies. A clinical study also observed positive correlation between periostin and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), highly sensitive troponin (hsTnT), and ST2 cardiac biomarker. Studies reported limited adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence of current review support potential role of periostin in the pathophysiology of CVD. However, scarcity of data regarding the clinical use of periostin levels in the current management of CVDs further creates room for the future investigation. Therefore, further studies warrant to clarify its potential role, if any, as a novel cardiac biomarker.

Genetic association study of coronary collateral circulation in patients with coronary artery disease using 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms corresponding to 10 genes involved in postischemic neovascularization

BACKGROUND

Collateral growth in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is highly heterogeneous. Although multiple factors are thought to play a role in collateral development, the contribution of genetic factors to coronary collateral circulation (CCC) is largely unknown. The goal of this study was to assess whether functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in vascular growth are associated with CCC.

METHODS

677 consecutive CAD patients were enrolled in the study and their CCC was assessed by the Rentrop method. 22 SNPs corresponding to 10 genes involved in postischemic neovascularization were genotyped and multivariate logistic regression models were adjusted using clinically relevant variables to estimate odds ratios and used to examine associations of allelic variants, genotypes and haplotypes with CCC.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that the HIF1A rs11549465 and rs2057482; VEGFA rs2010963, rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025039 and rs833061; KDR rs1870377, rs2305948 and rs2071559; CCL2 rs1024611, rs1024610, rs2857657 and rs2857654; NOS3 rs1799983; ICAM1 rs5498 and rs3093030; TGFB1 rs1800469; CD53 rs6679497; POSTN rs3829365 and rs1028728; and LGALS2 rs7291467 polymorphisms, as well as their haplotype combinations, were not associated with CCC (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We could not validate in our cohort the association of the NOS3 rs1799983, HIF1A rs11549465, VEGFA rs2010963 and rs699947, and LGALS2 rs7291467 variants with CCC reported by other authors. A validated SNP-based genome-wide association study is required to identify polymorphisms influencing CCC.

Association of serum periostin with cardiac function and short-term prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients

Background

Periostin was proved to play an important role in extra-cellular matrix remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Myocardial periostin was markedly up-regulated after AMI and participated in the maladaptive process of cardiac remodeling. However, few researches focused on the circulating periostin and its significance. This study aims to investigate the association of serum periostin level with cardiac function and short-term prognosis in AMI patients.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We totally recruited 50 patients diagnosed as ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Blood samples were taken within 12 hours after the onset of AMI before emergency coronary revascularization procedures. Serum periostin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All patients received echocardiography examination within one week after hospitalization. Correlations of serum periostin with echocardiography parameters, Killip class and myocardium injury biomarkers (CK-MB/troponin T) were investigated. AMI patients were divided into two groups by serum periostin level (higher/lower periostin group) and followed up for six months. Primary endpoints included cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal stroke/transient ischemic attack, chest pain occurrence and re-hospitalization. Secondary endpoint referred to composite cardiovascular events including all the primary endpoints.

Result

Serum periostin was in negative association with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = −0.472, *p<0.01) and left atrium diameter (LAD) (r = −0.328, *p<0.05). Positive correlation was found between serum periostin level and Killip class (r = 0.395, *p<0.01). There was no association between serum periostin and CK-MB or troponin T (p>0.05). After six months follow up, patients in higher periostin group showed increased composite cardiovascular events (*p<0.05). Patients showed no significant difference in primary endpoints between the two groups.

Conclusions/Significance

Serum periostin was in negative correlation with LVEF and LAD, in positive association with Killip class and higher serum periostin level may be predictive for worse short-term disease prognosis indicated as more composite cardiovascular events six months post AMI.