The Establishment of the Nordic Cardio-Oncology Society

Non peer reviewe

The Neurotrophic Receptor Ntrk2 Directs Lymphoid Tissue Neovascularization during Leishmania donovani Infection

The neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (Ntrk2, also known as TrkB) and its ligands brain derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4/5), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are known primarily for their multiple effects on neuronal differentiation and survival. Here, we provide evidence that Ntrk2 plays a role in the pathologic remodeling of the spleen that accompanies chronic infection. We show that in Leishmania donovani-infected mice, Ntrk2 is aberrantly expressed on splenic endothelial cells and that new maturing blood vessels within the white pulp are intimately associated with F4/80hiCD11bloCD11c+ macrophages that express Bdnf and NT-4/5 and have pro-angiogenic potential in vitro. Furthermore, administration of the small molecule Ntrk2 antagonist ANA-12 to infected mice significantly inhibited white pulp neovascularization but had no effect on red pulp vascular remodeling. We believe this to be the first evidence of the Ntrk2/neurotrophin pathway driving pathogen-induced vascular remodeling in lymphoid tissue. These studies highlight the therapeutic potential of modulating this pathway to inhibit pathological angiogenesis

Cancer Genomics Identifies Regulatory Gene Networks Associated with the Transition from Dysplasia to Advanced Lung Adenocarcinomas Induced by c-Raf-1

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity. To improve an understanding of molecular causes of disease a transgenic mouse model was investigated where targeted expression of the serine threonine kinase c-Raf to respiratory epithelium induced initialy dysplasia and subsequently adenocarcinomas. This enables dissection of genetic events associated with precancerous and cancerous lesions. Methodology/Principal Findings: By laser microdissection cancer cell populations were harvested and subjected to whole genome expression analyses. Overall 473 and 541 genes were significantly regulated, when cancer versus transgenic and non-transgenic cells were compared, giving rise to three distinct and one common regulatory gene network. At advanced stages of tumor growth predominately repression of gene expression was observed, but genes previously shown to be upregulated in dysplasia were also up-regulated in solid tumors. Regulation of developmental programs as well as epithelial mesenchymal and mesenchymal endothelial transition was a hall mark of adenocarcinomas. Additionaly, genes coding for cell adhesion, i.e. the integrins and the tight and gap junction proteins were repressed, whereas ligands for receptor tyrosine kinase such as epi- and amphiregulin were up-regulated. Notably, Vegfr- 2 and its ligand Vegfd, as well as Notch and Wnt signalling cascades were regulated as were glycosylases that influence cellular recognition. Other regulated signalling molecules included guanine exchange factors that play a role in an activation of the MAP kinases while several tumor suppressors i.e. Mcc, Hey1, Fat3, Armcx1 and Reck were significantly repressed. Finally, probable molecular switches forcing dysplastic cells into malignantly transformed cells could be identified. Conclusions/Significance: This study provides insight into molecular pertubations allowing dysplasia to progress further to adenocarcinoma induced by exaggerted c-Raf kinase activity

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort

Circulating neuregulin in HFpEF and HFrEF

International audienceRAPID FIRE 1 – ACUTE HEART FAILURE, 201

Adherence to optimal heart rate control in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction : insight from a survey of heart rate in heart failure in Sweden (HR-HF study)

Despite that heart rate (HR) control is one of the guideline-recommended treatment goals for heart failure (HF) patients, implementation has been painstakingly slow. Therefore, it would be important to identify patients who have not yet achieved their target heart rates and assess possible underlying reasons as to why the target rates are not met. The survey of HR in patients with HF in Sweden (HR-HF survey) is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, observational longitudinal study designed to investigate the state of the art in the control of HR in HF and to explore potential underlying mechanisms for suboptimal HR control with focus on awareness of and adherence to guidelines for HR control among physicians who focus on the contributing role of beta-blockers (BBs). In 734 HF patients the mean HR was 68 +/- 12 beats per minute (bpm) (37.2% of the patients had a HR > 70 bpm). Patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n = 425) had the highest HR (70 +/- 13 bpm, with 42% > 70 bpm), followed by HF with preserved ejection fraction and HF with mid-range ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation, irrespective of HF type, had higher HR than sinus rhythm. A similar pattern was observed with BB treatment. Moreover, non-achievement of the recommended target HR (< 70 bpm) in HFrEF and sinus rhythm was unrelated to age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, and comorbidities, but was related to EF and the clinical decision of the physician. Approximately 50% of the physicians considered a HR of > 70 bpm optimal and an equal number considered a HR of > 70 bpm too high, but without recommending further action. Furthermore, suboptimal HR control cannot be attributed to the use of BBs because there was neither a difference in use of BBs nor an interaction with BBs for HR > 70 bpm compared with HR < 70 bpm. Suboptimal control of HR was noted in HFrEF with sinus rhythm, which appeared to be attributable to physician decision making rather than to the use of BBs. Therefore, our results underline the need for greater attention to HR control in patients with HFrEF and sinus rhythm and thus a potential for improved HF care

A systematic review and meta-analysis of beta-blockers and inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system for preventing left ventricular dysfunction due to anthracyclines or trastuzumab in patients with breast cancer

Aims: Trastuzumab and anthracyclines, often used in the treatment of breast cancer, may impair myocardial function, and reduce left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), potentially causing heart failure. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the effects of beta-blockers (BBs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on trastuzumab- and anthracycline-associated cardiotoxicity. We report a meta-analysis of these RCTs in patients with breast cancer. Methods and results: The primary analysis was on the effect of BBs and ACEI/ARBs on LVEF in patients treated with either trastuzumab or anthracyclines. A secondary analysis was done investigating the effect of BBs or ACEI/ARBs on LVEF in trastuzumab and anthracycline treatments. Only RCTs were included using the search term ‘ARBs, ACEIs, BBs, anthracyclines, trastuzumab, and breast cancer’ in PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL up to 31 March 2021. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the mean difference (MD) in LVEF between intervention and placebo groups at follow-up. A total of nine RCTs (n = 1362) were included in the analysis. All patients were women. BBs and ACEI/ARBs were shown to attenuate the decline in LVEF during trastuzumab and anthracycline treatments [MD: 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3–4.2 and MD: 1.5; 95% CI: –0.6 to 3.7]. Compared with placebo, LVEF was significantly higher in patients assigned to BB or ACEI/ARB on trastuzumab (MD: 2.3; 95% CI: 0.0–4.6) but not on anthracyclines (MD: 1.9; 95% CI: –0.5 to 4.2). Conclusion: Both BB and ACEI/ARB therapies were associated with the preservation of LVEF during trastuzumab and anthracycline-containing regimens as compared with placebo, suggesting both to be beneficial. Key question: The distinct effects of (1) beta-blockers (BBs) and (ii) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with breast cancer treated with trastuzumab or anthracyclines. The effect of either BBs or ACEI/ARBs on the LVEF during (iii) trastuzumab and (iv) anthracycline treatments. Key finding: BBs and ACEI/ARBs were shown to attenuate the decline in LVEF during trastuzumab and anthracycline treatments. In patients treated with trastuzumab, BBs or ACEI/ARBs were significantly associated with higher LVEFs. For anthracyclines, a similar trend was found, although nonsignificant. Take home message: BB therapy and ACEI/ARB therapy were associated with LVEF preservation during trastuzumab and anthracycline containing regimens in patients with breast cancer

Costimulation blockade induces tolerance to HESC transplanted to the testis and induces regulatory T-cells to HESC transplanted into the heart

In order to study the ability of costimulation blockade to induce tolerance to human embryonic stem cells (HESC), severe combined immunodeficient (SCID), and immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice treated with costimulation blockade received intratesticular and intramyocardial HESC transplants. All SCID mice with intratesticular HESC transplants developed teratoma. When SCID mice were transplanted intramyocardially, only two of five mice developed teratoma-like tumors. C57BL/6 mice transplanted intratesticularly and treated with costimulation blockade all developed teratoma and were surrounded by CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T-cells, while isotype control treated recipients rejected their grafts. Most C57BL/6 mice transplanted intramyocardially and treated with costimulation blockade demonstrated lymphocytic infiltrates 1 month after transplantation, whereas one maintained its graft. Isolation of regulatory T-cells from intramyocardial transplanted recipients treated with costimulation blockade demonstrated specificity toward undifferentiated HESC and down-regulated naive T-cell activation toward HESC. These results demonstrate that costimulation blockade is sufficiently robust to induce tolerance to HESC in the immune-privileged environment of the testis. HESC specific regulatory T-cells developed to HESC transplanted to the heart and the success of transplantation was similar to that seen in SCID mice