140 research outputs found
The role of epigenetics in renal ageing
An ability to separate natural ageing processes from processes specific to morbidities is required to understand the heterogeneity of age-related organ dysfunction. Mechanistic insight into how epigenetic factors regulate ageing throughout the life course, linked to a decline in renal function with ageing, is already proving to be of value in the analyses of clinical and epidemiological cohorts. Noncoding RNAs provide epigenetic regulatory circuits within the kidney, which reciprocally interact with DNA methylation processes, histone modification and chromatin. These interactions have been demonstrated to reflect the biological age and function of renal allografts. Epigenetic factors control gene expression and activity in response to environmental perturbations. They also have roles in highly conserved signalling pathways that modulate ageing, including the mTOR and insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling pathways, and regulation of sirtuin activity. Nutrition, the gut microbiota, inflammation and environmental factors, including psychosocial and lifestyle stresses, provide potential mechanistic links between the epigenetic landscape of ageing and renal dysfunction. Approaches to modify the renal epigenome via nutritional intervention, targeting the methylome or targeting chromatin seem eminently feasible, although caution is merited owing to the potential for intergenerational and transgenerational effects
Big science and big data in nephrology
There have been tremendous advances during the last
decade in methods for large-scale, high-throughput data
generation and in novel computational approaches to
analyze these datasets. These advances have had a
profound impact on biomedical research and clinical
medicine. The field of genomics is rapidly developing
toward single-cell analysis, and major advances in
proteomics and metabolomics have been made in recent
years. The developments on wearables and electronic
health records are poised to change clinical trial design.
This rise of ‘big data’ holds the promise to transform not
only research progress, but also clinical decision making
towards precision medicine. To have a true impact, it
requires integrative and multi-disciplinary approaches that
blend experimental, clinical and computational expertise
across multiple institutions. Cancer research has been at
the forefront of the progress in such large-scale initiatives,
so-called ‘big science,’ with an emphasis on precision
medicine, and various other areas are quickly catching up.
Nephrology is arguably lagging behind, and hence these
are exciting times to start (or redirect) a research career to
leverage these developments in nephrology. In this review,
we summarize advances in big data generation,
computational analysis, and big science initiatives, with a
special focus on applications to nephrology
Cardio-oncology: new insights into association and interaction between cardiovascular disease and cancer
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer stand as the top leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The emerging field of Cardio-Oncology has unveiled their intricate connection, which arises from the cardiotoxicity of cancer treatments, common risk factors, and the potential for cardiac dysfunction to accelerate cancer progression. Consequently, there's a growing academic interest and clinical importance to investigate the link between these conditions and the underlying mechanism. In this thesis, we studied the CVD-cancer association from various perspectives. We assessed tumour biomarkers in heart failure (HF) patients, revealing that several biomarkers significantly correlate with adverse HF outcomes, indicating shared pathophysiological processes.Additionally, our investigation into clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) showed that CHIP primarily associates with incident HF in individuals < 65 years, which underscores the importance of early detection and prevention of CHIP. We also explored the impact of HF on tumour growth and could show that this varies among different cancer types. Notably, HF didn't promote renal cancer growth in our study, cautioning against broad generalizations about HF-cancer interaction.Furthermore, we provided multi-omics characterization of myocardial tissue in three different HF mouse models (MI, TAC and PLN-R14Δ/Δ), investigated myostatin inhibition in cardiac pressure-overloaded mice, and summarized findings on shared risk factors, mechanisms, and pathophysiological signalling pathways linking cancer with other multifactorial diseases (CVDs, CKD, COPD and MAFLD).In conclusion, this thesis contributes valuable insights to the Cardio-Oncology field, enhancing clinicians' awareness of the potential risks associated with co-morbid HF/cancer, and facilitating safe and efficacious medication use in clinical practice
Interplay between inflammation and calcification in cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular calcification has been linked to all-cause mortality and is a broadly adopted
predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events. Rather than a mere by-product of the changing
disease environment, calcification impacts actively the disease progression and pathogenesis
as it predominates both in early- and late-stages, through mediating tissue biomechanical
destabilisation and directly impacting tissue inflammation. However, its clinical contribution
to the fate of the disease remains to be elucidated. Emerging body of evidence from both
basic and clinical research has demonstrated the significance of the innate immune system in
cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Here, inflammation and calcification are engaged in a
vicious cycle particularly at early-stages, whereas in advanced-lesions, large calcifications
linked with suppressed inflammation and plaque stability. However, this interaction during
disease progression remains largely elusive. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the
interplay between inflammation and calcification in advanced atherosclerosis and calcific
aortic valve disease (CAVD).
Study I explores gene and protein expression signatures and biological pathways of advanced
CAVD lesions in order to characterise the underlining mechanisms associated with the
disease pathology. Multi-omics integration of overlapping transcriptome/proteome
molecules with miRNAs, identified a unique CAVD-related protein-protein 3D layered
interaction network. After addition of a metabolite layer, Alzheimer's disease (AD) was
identified in the core of the gene-disease network. This study suggests a novel molecular
CAVD network potentially linked to amyloid-like structures formation.
Study II characterises osteomodulin (OMD) in the context of atherosclerosis, chronic kidney
disease (CKD) and CAVD. Plasma OMD levels were correlated with markers of
inflammation and bone turnover, with the protein being present in the calcified arterial media
of patients with CKD stage 5. Circulating OMD levels were also associated with cardiac
valve calcification in the same patients and its positive signal was detected in calcified valve
leaflets by immunohistochemistry. In patients with carotid atherosclerosis, plasma OMD
levels were increased in association with plaque calcification as assessed by computed
tomography. Transcriptomic and proteomic data analysis showed that OMD expression was
upregulated in atherosclerotic compared to non-atherosclerotic control arteries, and
particularly in highly calcified plaques, where its expression correlated positively with
markers of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and osteoblasts. In vivo, OMD was
enriched in VSMCs around calcified nodules in aortic media of nephrectomised rats and in
plaques from ApoE-/- mice on warfarin. In vitro experiments revealed that exogenous
administration of recombinant human OMD protein repressed the calcification process of
VSMCs treated with phosphate by maintaining the VSMC contractile phenotype along with
enriched extracellular matrix (ECM) organisation, thereby attenuating VSMC osteoblastic
transformation.
Study III analyses OMD expression in human carotid plaques and particularly its link with
future CV events. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that OMD levels were increased in
plaques from asymptomatic patients compared to symptomatic ones, with high levels being
associated with fewer CV events in a follow-up analysis.
Study IV investigates the link between mast cell (MC) activation and key features of human
plaque vulnerability, and the role of MC in VSMC-mediated calcification. Integrative
analyses from a large biobank of human plaques showed that MC activation is inversely
associated with macrocalcification and positively with morphological parameters of plaque
vulnerability. Bioinformatic analyses revealed associations of MCs with NK cells and other
immune cells in plaques. Mechanistic in vitro experiments showed that calcification
attenuated MC activation, while both active and resting MCs induced VSMC calcification
and triggered their dedifferentiation towards a pro-inflammatory- and osteochondrocyte-like
phenotype.
Overall, this thesis demonstrates that the underlying mechanisms of CVD related to
inflammation and calcification can be comprehensively characterised by integration of largescale
multi-omics datasets along with cellular and molecular assays on one side, and disease
specific biomarkers and advanced diagnostic imaging tools on the other. In summary, these
studies not only indicate that advanced-calcification is a stabilising factor for plaque and
disease progression but also, unveil novel insights into the cardiovascular calcification
pathobiology, and offer promising biomarkers and new therapeutic avenues for further
exploration
From Mouse Models to Patients: A Comparative Bioinformatic Analysis of HFpEF and HFrEF
Heart failure (HF) represents an immense health burden with currently no curative
therapeutic strategies. Study of HF patient heterogeneity has led to the recognition of
HF with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as distinct syndromes
regarding molecular characteristics and clinical presentation. Until the recent past,
HFrEF represented the focus of research, reflected in the development of a number of
therapeutic strategies. However, the pathophysiological concepts applicable to HFrEF
may not be necessarily applicable to HFpEF. HF induces a series of ventricular
modeling processes that involve, among others, hallmarks of hypertrophy, fibrosis,
inflammation, all of which can be observed to some extent in HFpEF and HFrEF. Thus,
by direct comparative analysis between HFpEF and HFrEF, distinctive features can be
uncovered, possibly leading to improved pathophysiological understanding and
opportunities
for
therapeutic
intervention.
Moreover,
recent
advances
in
biotechnologies, animal models, and digital infrastructure have enabled large-scale
collection of molecular and clinical data, making it possible to conduct a bioinformatic
comparative analysis of HFpEF and HFrEF.
Here, I first evaluated the field of HF transcriptome research by revisiting published
studies and data sets to provide a consensus gene expression reference. I discussed the
patient clientele that was captured, revealing that HFpEF patients were not represented.
Thus, I applied alternative approaches to study HFpEF. I utilized a mouse surrogate
model of HFpEF and analyzed single cell transcriptomics to gain insights into the
interstitial tissue remodeling. I contrasted this analysis by comparison of fibroblast
activation patterns found in mouse models resembling HFrEF. The human reference
was used to further demonstrate similarities between models and patients and a novel
possible biomarker for HFpEF was introduced.
Mouse models only capture selected aspects of HFpEF but largely fail to imitate the
complex multi-factor and multi-organ syndrome present in humans. To account for
this complexity, I performed a top-down analysis in HF patients by analyzing
phenome-wide comorbidity patterns. I derived clinical insights by contrasting HFpEF
and HFrEF patients and their comorbidity profiles. These profiles were then used to
predict associated genetic profiles, which could be also recovered in the HFpEF mouse
model, providing hypotheses about the molecular links of comorbidity profiles.
My work provided novel insights into HFpEF and HFrEF syndromes and exemplified an
interdisciplinary bioinformatic approach for a comparative analysis of both syndromes
using different data modalities
The European Hematology Association Roadmap for European Hematology Research: a consensus document
The European Hematology Association (EHA) Roadmap for European Hematology Research highlights major achievements in diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and identifies the greatest unmet clinical and scientific needs in those areas to enable better funded, more focused European hematology research. Initiated by the EHA, around 300 experts contributed to the consensus document, which will help European policy makers, research funders, research organizations, researchers, and patient groups make better informed decisions on hematology research. It also aims to raise public awareness of the burden of blood disorders on European society, which purely in economic terms is estimated at €23 billion per year, a level of cost that is not matched in current European hematology research funding. In recent decades, hematology research has improved our fundamental understanding of the biology of blood disorders, and has improved diagnostics and treatments, sometimes in revolutionary ways. This progress highlights the potential of focused basic research programs such as this EHA Roadmap.
The EHA Roadmap identifies nine ‘sections’ in hematology: normal hematopoiesis, malignant lymphoid and myeloid diseases, anemias and related diseases, platelet disorders, blood coagulation and hemostatic disorders, transfusion medicine, infections in hematology, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These sections span 60 smaller groups of diseases or disorders.
The EHA Roadmap identifies priorities and needs across the field of hematology, including those to develop targeted therapies based on genomic profiling and chemical biology, to eradicate minimal residual malignant disease, and to develop cellular immunotherapies, combination treatments, gene therapies, hematopoietic stem cell treatments, and treatments that are better tolerated by elderly patients
The European Hematology Association Roadmap for European Hematology Research. A Consensus Document
Abstract
The European Hematology Association (EHA) Roadmap for European Hematology Research highlights major achievements in diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and identifies the greatest unmet clinical and scientific needs in those areas to enable better funded, more focused European hematology research. Initiated by the EHA, around 300 experts contributed to the consensus document, which will help European policy makers, research funders, research organizations, researchers, and patient groups make better informed decisions on hematology research. It also aims to raise public awareness of the burden of blood disorders on European society, which purely in economic terms is estimated at Euro 23 billion per year, a level of cost that is not matched in current European hematology research funding. In recent decades, hematology research has improved our fundamental understanding of the biology of blood disorders, and has improved diagnostics and treatments, sometimes in revolutionary ways. This progress highlights the potential of focused basic research programs such as this EHA Roadmap. The EHA Roadmap identifies nine sections in hematology: normal hematopoiesis, malignant lymphoid and myeloid diseases, anemias and related diseases, platelet disorders, blood coagulation and hemostatic disorders, transfusion medicine, infections in hematology, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These sections span 60 smaller groups of diseases or disorders. The EHA Roadmap identifies priorities and needs across the field of hematology, including those to develop targeted therapies based on genomic profiling and chemical biology, to eradicate minimal residual malignant disease, and to develop cellular immunotherapies, combination treatments, gene therapies, hematopoietic stem cell treatments, and treatments that are better tolerated by elderly patients.
Received December 15, 2015.
Accepted January 27, 2016.
Copyright © 2016, Ferrata Storti Foundatio
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