Soluble ST2, a biomarker of fibrosis, is associated with multiple risk factors, chronic diseases and total mortality in the OPERA study

Biomarkers of aging in frailty and age-associated disorders: State of the art and future perspective

According to the Geroscience concept that organismal aging and age-associated diseases share the same basic molecular mechanisms, the identification of biomarkers of age that can efficiently classify people as biologically older (or younger) than their chronological (i.e. calendar) age is becoming of paramount importance. These people will be in fact at higher (or lower) risk for many different age-associated diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, cancer, etc. In turn, patients suffering from these diseases are biologically older than healthy age-matched individuals. Many biomarkers that correlate with age have been described so far. The aim of the present review is to discuss the usefulness of some of these biomarkers (especially soluble, circulating ones) in order to identify frail patients, possibly before the appearance of clinical symptoms, as well as patients at risk for age-associated diseases. An overview of selected biomarkers will be discussed in this regard, in particular we will focus on biomarkers related to metabolic stress response, inflammation, and cell death (in particular in neurodegeneration), all phenomena connected to inflammaging (chronic, low-grade, age-associated inflammation). In the second part of the review, next-generation markers such as extracellular vesicles and their cargos, epigenetic markers and gut microbiota composition, will be discussed. Since recent progresses in omics techniques have allowed an exponential increase in the production of laboratory data also in the field of biomarkers of age, making it difficult to extract biological meaning from the huge mass of available data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches will be discussed as an increasingly important strategy for extracting knowledge from raw data and providing practitioners with actionable information to treat patients.

Prognostic Role of Dynamic CZT Imaging in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognostic role of myocardial flow reserve (MFR) and myocardial blood flow (MBF) estimates obtained with dynamic cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) imaging in the development and progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) during a 12-month follow-up period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 112 patients (70 men; median age of 62.5 [57.0; 69.0] years) with nonobstructive coronary artery disease were enrolled in the study. Dynamic CZT-SPECT, echocardiography, and coronary CT angiography studies were performed baseline.

RESULTS

Distribution of patients was performed by adverse events: group 1 comprised patients with adverse outcomes (n = 25), and group 2 comprised those without it (n = 87). Based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, the levels of MFR ≤1.62 (area under the curve [AUС], 0.884; Р < 0.001), stress-MBF ≤1.35 mL/min per gram (AUС, 0.750; Р < 0.001), and NT-proBNP ≥760.5 pg/mL (AUС, 0.764; Р = 0.001) were identified as cutoff values to predict adverse outcomes. Univariate analysis revealed that type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.044), the levels of MFR ≤1.62 (P = 0.014), stress-MBF ≤1.35 mL/min per gram (P = 0.012), NT-proBNP ≥760.5 pg/mL (P = 0.018), and diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.009) were potential risk factors for the development and progression of HFpEF. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the values of NT-proBNP ≥760.5 pg/mL (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.62; P = 0.027) and MFR ≤1.62 (odds ratio, 2.801; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-6.55; P = 0.018) were independent predictors of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that reduced MFR ≤1.62 obtained with dynamic CZT imaging and overexpression of NT-proBNP ≥760.5 pg/mL can individuate patients at high risk of development and progression of HFpEF during a 12-month follow-up period, independently of baseline clinical parameters and imaging variables.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Features and Prognostic Value

(1) Background: The results of the international studies support the assumption that coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) occurs significantly more often than previously identified and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, there is a lack of the accurate comprehension of its pathophysiology. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical and instrumental features of CMD and to assess its prognostic value during 12 months of follow-up period. (2) Methods: A total of 118 patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved LV ejection fraction (62 [59; 64]%) were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of biomarkers were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoassay. CMD was defined as the reduced myocardial flow reserve (MFR) ≤ 2 obtained by dynamic CZT-SPECT. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with evaluation of LV diastolic dysfunction was performed baseline. (3) Results: Patients were divided into groups depending on the presence of CMD: CMD+ group (MFR ≤ 2; n = 45), and CMD- group (MFR > 2; n = 73). In CMD+ group, the severity of diastolic dysfunction, the levels of biomarkers of fibrosis and inflammation were higher than in CMD- group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the presence of diastolic dysfunction (OR 3.27; 95% CI 2.26-5.64; p < 0.001), the hyperexpression of NT-proBNP ≥ 760.5 pg/mL (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.12-4.15; p = 0.021) and soluble ST2 ≥ 31.4 ng/mL (OR 1.37; 95% 1.08-2.98; p = 0.015) were independent factors associated with CMD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a rate of the adverse outcomes was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in patients with CMD (45.2%, n = 19) than in patients without it (8.6%, n = 6). (4) Conclusions: Our data suggest that the presence of CMD was associated with the severe diastolic dysfunction and hyperexpression of the biomarkers of fibrosis and inflammation. Patients with CMD had higher rate of the adverse outcomes than those without it.

The myocardial flow reserve in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

To evaluate the myocardial flow reserve (MFR) and myocardial blood flow (MBF) parameters in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and to assess their relationship with the severity of HF and the levels of soluble ST2 (sST2). A total of 59 consecutive patients (median age of 65.0 (58.0; 69.0) years) with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved EF were enrolled. Serum levels biomarkers were measured by enzyme immunoassay. MBF and MFR parameters were evaluated by dynamic CZT-SPECT. All patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients (n = 41) with HFpEF, and group 2 comprised those (n = 18) without HFpEF. In group 1 global MFR (gMFR) values were lower by 27.8% (p = 0.003) than in group 2. The values of gMFR correlated with NT-proBNP (r = - 0.290) and sST2 (r = -0.331) levels. Based on ROC-analysis, gMFR ≤ 2.27 (AUC = 0.746; p < 0.001) were associated with the presence of HFpEF. In patients with HFpEF (n = 41) the values of gMFR were related to NYHA classes (p < 0.001) and the parameters of diastolic dysfunction (p < 0.001). The values of gMFR ≤ 2.27 may be used for the evaluation of microvascular changes in patients with HFpEF and non-obstructive CAD.

Comparison of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 and brachial hemodynamic parameters between dialysis modalities in patients with end-stage kidney disease

PURPOSE

Major cardiovascular events (MACE) are the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Although hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are comparable in survival, patients with HD have a significantly higher risk of developing MACE. Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) is a cardiac biomarker, that does not vary with age, gender, and kidney function. This study aimed to compare arterial stiffness, fluid status, and sST2 levels, between patients with PD and those with in-center HD.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study, which was conducted with 36 PD patients, 36 HD patients, and 36 age, and gender-matched healthy controls. We used noninvasive methods for the assessment of arterial stiffness and fluid status.

RESULTS

The patients with PD overhydrated compared to HD patients and healthy control (p < 0.001, and p = 0.05, respectively). Patients with PD had higher central systolic blood pressure and central pulse pressure than patients with HD and the control group (p = 0.004, and p = 0.01; p < 0.001, and p = 0.004, respectively). HD patients had a significantly higher level of plasma sST2 level compared to PD patients and the control group (p = 0.03, and p = 0.005). HD as maintenance dialysis modality and dialysis vintage was associated with higher plasma sST2 concentration, and having a residual renal function in dialysis patients was related to the lower plasma sST2 concentration.

CONCLUSION

PD is associated with better sST2 levels even though higher volume load than HD. In addition, the loss of RRF may be the most important factor related to increased sST2.

Prognostic Role of sST2 in Acute Heart Failure and COVID-19 Infection-A Narrative Review on Pathophysiology and Clinical Prospective

The importance of cardiovascular biomarkers in clinical practice increased dramatically in the last years, and the interest extends from the diagnosis purpose to prognostic applications and response to specific treatment. Acute heart failure, ischemic heart failure, and COVID-19 infection represent different clinical settings that are challenging in terms of the proper prognostic establishment. The aim of the present review is to establish the useful role of sST2, the soluble form of the interleukin-1 receptor superfamily (ST2), physiologically involved in the signaling of interleukin-33 (IL-33)-ST2 axis, in the clinical setting of acute heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease, and SARS-CoV-2 acute infection. Molecular mechanisms associated with the IL33/ST2 signaling pathways are discussed in view of the clinical usefulness of biomarkers to early diagnosis, evaluation therapy to response, and prediction of adverse outcomes in cardiovascular diseases.

The Prognostic Role of ST2L and sST2 in Patients Who Underwent Carotid Plaque Endarterectomy: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

Soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity (sST)-2 plasma concentration is related to atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of sST2 and its membrane-associated form (ST2L) in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque who underwent endarterectomy (CEA). Eighty-two consecutive patients (age range: 48−86 years) who underwent CEA were enrolled. Anthropometric, clinical, instrumental, and laboratory evaluations were gathered. Thirty-seven (45%) patients were symptomatic of cerebrovascular diseases. Patients underwent a five-year follow-up. Phone calls and the analysis of national and regional databases were performed in order to evaluate the occurrence of the primary outcome (all-cause mortality). The population was divided according to survival status. Statins were administered in 81% and 87.5% of survivors and non-survivors, respectively. sST2 levels were higher in non-survivors than in survivors (117.0 ± 103.9 vs. 38.0 ± 30.0 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and in symptomatic individuals, compared with asymptomatic (80.3 ± 92.1 ng/mL vs. 45.4 ± 41.4 ng/mL, p = 0.02). ROC curve analysis identified sST2 cut-off: >98.44 ng/mL as the best predictor for mortality. At the one-year follow-up, the survival rate decreased up to 20% in patients with sST2 higher than the cut-off value. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that only sST2 (HR: 1.012, 95% CI: 1.008−1.016, p < 0.0001) and triglycerides plasma levels (HR: 1.008, 95% CI: 1.002−1.015, p = 0.0135) remained significantly associated with all-cause mortality. ST2L was not associated with all-cause mortality risk. sST2 may act as an independent prognostic determinant of all-cause mortality and symptomatic cerebrovascular diseases in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque who underwent CEA.

Biomarker Development in Cardiology: Reviewing the Past to Inform the Future

Cardiac biomarkers have become pivotal to the clinical practice of cardiology, but there remains much to discover that could benefit cardiology patients. We review the discovery of key protein biomarkers in the fields of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and atherosclerosis, giving an overview of the populations they were studied in and the statistics that were used to validate them. We review statistical approaches that are currently in use to assess new biomarkers and overview a framework for biomarker discovery and evaluation that could be incorporated into clinical trials to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes in the future.

Electrochemical Immunosensing of ST2: A Checkpoint Target in Cancer Diseases

A magnetic beads (MB)-involved amperometric immunosensor for the determination of ST2, a member of the IL1 receptor family, is reported in this work. The method utilizes a sandwich immunoassay and disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). Magnetic immunoconjugates built on the surface of carboxylic acid-microsized magnetic particles (HOOC-MBs) were used to selectively capture ST2. A biotinylated secondary antibody further conjugated with a streptavidin peroxidase conjugate (Strep-HRP) was used to accomplish the sandwiching of the target protein. The immune platform exhibits great selectivity and a low limit of detection (39.6 pg mL⁻¹) for ST2, allowing the determination of soluble ST2 (sST2) in plasma samples from healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in only 45 min once the immunoconjugates have been prepared. The good correlation of the obtained results with those provided by an ELISA kit performed using the same immunoreagents demonstrates the potential of the developed strategy for early diagnosis and/or prognosis of the fatal PDAC disease.