Interleukin 27 is increased in carotid atherosclerosis and promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Aim: Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is involved in different inflammatory diseases; however, its role in atherosclerosis is unclear. In this study we investigated the expression of IL-27 and its receptor in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and if IL-27 could modulate the inflammatory effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro.

Methods: Plasma IL-27 was measured by enzyme immunoassay in patients with carotid stenosis (n = 140) and in healthy controls (n = 19).

Wnt5a is associated with right ventricular dysfunction and adverse outcome in dilated cardiomyopathy.

The Wingless (Wnt) pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To explore the role of Wnt modulators Wnt5a and sFRP3 in DCM patients we analyzed the expression of Wnt5a and sFRP3 in plasma and myocardium of DCM patients and evaluated their effects on NFAT luciferase activity in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. Elevated circulating Wnt5a (n = 102) was associated with increased pulmonary artery pressures, decreased right ventricular function and adverse outcome, with a stronger association in more severely affected patients.

Limited Added Value of Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers in Chronic Heart Failure.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate whether a panel of biomarkers improved prognostication in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction of ischemic origin using a systematized approach according to suggested requirements for validation of new biomarkers.

Background: Modeling combinations of multiple circulating markers could potentially identify patients with HF at particularly high risk and aid in the selection of individualized therapy.

Methods: From a panel of 20 inflammatory and extracellular matrix biomarkers, 2 different biomarker panels were created and added to the Seattle HF score and the prognostic model from the CORONA (Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure) study (n = 1,497), which included conventional clinical characteristics and C-reactive protein and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide.

Wnt5a is elevated in heart failure and affects cardiac fibroblast function.

Unlabelled: Wnt signaling is dysregulated in heart failure (HF) and may promote cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation. Blocking the Wnt ligand Wnt5a prevents HF in animal models. However, the role of Wnt5a in human HF and its functions in cardiac cells remain unclear.

Low Circulating Levels of Mitochondrial and High Levels of Nuclear DNA Predict Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and possibly nuclear DNA (nDNA) are released as danger-associated molecular patterns during cardiac stress, and may activate several innate immune receptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation of these danger-associated molecular patterns during human heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: Plasma levels of mtDNA and nDNA from HF patients (n = 84) were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and compared with controls (n = 72).