Ståle H. Nymo

Soluble ST2 is associated with adverse outcome in patients with heart failure of ischaemic aetiology.

In patients with ischaemic heart failure (HF), myocardial dysfunction often progresses. Elevated levels of soluble ST2 (sST2) are associated with a poor prognosis, but an association between sST2 and worsening heart failure per se has not been established. We assessed the association between sST2 and cause‐specific outcome in 1449 patients enrolled in the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA study).

Pentraxin-3 in chronic heart failure: the CORONA and GISSI-HF trials.

Pentraxin‐3 (PTX3) is a component of the humoral arm of innate immunity which can regulate inflammatory processes. Since the role of inflammation in the progression of chronic heart failure (HF) is debated, we investigated the prognostic value of PTX3 and the effect of a statin in two large populations of patients with HF.

The predictive value of galectin-3 for mortality and cardiovascular events in the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA)

BACKGROUND Galectin-3 is a new biomarker involved in inflammation and fibrogenesis and could therefore contribute to myocardial remodeling. We examined the prognostic value of baseline galectin-3 in a substudy involving approximately 30% of participants in the CORONA study. METHODS Patients (n = 1462) aged >60 years with systolic, ischemic heart failure (HF) were randomized to 10 mg/d rosuvastatin or placebo. The primary composite end point was cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke (n = 408). RESULTS In the unadjusted analysis, galectin-3 was associated with all end points considered, except hospitalization for worsening of HF. In multivariable analyses, adjusting for other clinical and biochemical predictor variables, galectin-3 was significantly associated with the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR] 1.53 [1.10-2.12], P = .011) as well as all-cause (HR 1.61 [1.20-2.29], P = .002) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.70 [1.19-2.42], P = .003), sudden death (HR 1.83 [1.14-2.94], P = .012), and the coronary end point (HR 1.48 [1.03-2.12], P = .035). However, when N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was added to the model, galectin-3 association with the end points was markedly attenuated and no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS Galectin-3 is not associated with outcome in older patients with advanced chronic systolic HF of ischemic etiology when adjusting for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and may therefore have limited use in the prognostication of elderly patients with systolic HF in clinical practice.

The association between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and clinical outcome in chronic heart failure: results from CORONA*.

Abstract.  Nymo SH, Ueland T, Askevold ET, Flo TH, Kjekshus J, Hulthe J, Wikstrand J, McMurray J, Van Veldhuisen DJ, Gullestad L, Aukrust P, Yndestad A (Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet; University of Oslo; Oslo; Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway; Gothenburg University, Gothenburg; AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden; University of Glasgow, UK; and University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands). The association between neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin and clinical outcome in chronic heart failure: results from CORONA. J Intern Med 2012; 271: 436–443.

Inflammatory cytokines in chronic heart failure: interleukin-8 is associated with adverse outcome: results from CORONA

We investigated the ability of prototypical inflammatory cytokines to predict clinical outcomes in a large population of patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF).

Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 Is Associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis and Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been shown to play an important role in macrophage cholesterol trafficking and associated inflammation. To further elucidate the role of FABP4 in atherogenesis in humans, we examined the regulation of FABP4 in carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. Methods We examined plasma FABP4 levels in asymptomatic (n = 28) and symptomatic (n = 31) patients with carotid atherosclerosis, as well as in 202 subjects with acute ischemic stroke. In a subgroup of patients we also analysed the expression of FABP4 within the atherosclerotic lesion. In addition, we investigated the ability of different stimuli with relevance to atherosclerosis to regulate FABP4 expression in monocytes/macrophages. Results FABP4 levels were higher in patients with carotid atherosclerosis, both systemically and within the atherosclerotic lesion, with particular high mRNA levels in carotid plaques from patients with the most recent symptoms. Immunostaining of carotid plaques localized FABP4 to macrophages, while activated platelets and oxidized LDL were potent stimuli for FABP4 expression in monocytes/macrophages in vitro. When measured at the time of acute ischemic stroke, high plasma levels of FABP4 were significantly associated with total and cardiovascular mortality during follow-up, although we did not find that addition of FABP4 to the fully adjusted multivariate model had an effect on the prognostic discrimination for all-cause mortality as assessed by c-statistics. Conclusions FABP4 is linked to atherogenesis, plaque instability and adverse outcome in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and acute ischemic stroke.

Soluble Glycoprotein 130 Predicts Fatal Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure Analysis From the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA)

Background— Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) is the common signal-transducing receptor subunit of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family, which may be involved in the progression of heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that soluble gp130 would provide prognostic information beyond that of IL-6 in a population with HF from the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA). Methods and Results— The associations of soluble gp130 and IL-6 with morbidity, mortality, and mode of death were assessed by immunoassays in a subset of 1452 patients enrolled in the CORONA trial, which included patients with HF, aged ≥60 years, in New York Heart Association classes II to IV, who had ischemic heart disease and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. In multivariable analyses, including C-reactive protein, IL-6, troponin T, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, elevated soluble gp130 (fifth quintile versus all lower quintiles) was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.47 [1.11–1.93]; P =0.006), cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.38 [1.01–1.87]; P =0.042), and death from worsening HF (hazard ratio, 1.85 [1.09–3.14]; P =0.002), but not with the primary end point (composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke; hazard ratio, 1.12 [0.84–1.50]; P =0.44). Plasma IL-6 was not associated with outcomes in multivariable analyses. Conclusions— Marked elevations in soluble gp130 are associated with total and cardiovascular mortality, as well as deaths from worsening HF, in elderly patients with HF of ischemic cause Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00206310][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00206310&atom=%2Fcirchf%2F6%2F1%2F91.atomBackground— Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) is the common signal-transducing receptor subunit of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family, which may be involved in the progression of heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that soluble gp130 would provide prognostic information beyond that of IL-6 in a population with HF from the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA). Methods and Results— The associations of soluble gp130 and IL-6 with morbidity, mortality, and mode of death were assessed by immunoassays in a subset of 1452 patients enrolled in the CORONA trial, which included patients with HF, aged ≥60 years, in New York Heart Association classes II to IV, who had ischemic heart disease and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. In multivariable analyses, including C-reactive protein, IL-6, troponin T, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, elevated soluble gp130 (fifth quintile versus all lower quintiles) was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.47 [1.11–1.93]; P=0.006), cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.38 [1.01–1.87]; P=0.042), and death from worsening HF (hazard ratio, 1.85 [1.09–3.14]; P=0.002), but not with the primary end point (composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke; hazard ratio, 1.12 [0.84–1.50]; P=0.44). Plasma IL-6 was not associated with outcomes in multivariable analyses. Conclusions— Marked elevations in soluble gp130 are associated with total and cardiovascular mortality, as well as deaths from worsening HF, in elderly patients with HF of ischemic cause Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00206310.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation during myocardial ischemia reperfusion is cardioprotective

BACKGROUND The innate immune receptor NLRP3 recognizes tissue damage and initiates inflammatory processes through formation multiprotein complexes with the adaptor protein ASC and caspase-1, i.e. NLRP3 inflammasomes, which through cleavage of pro-IL-1β mediates release of bioactive IL-1β. We hypothesized that NLRP3 mediates tissue damage during acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sought to investigate the mechanisms herein in an experimental MI model in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS The left coronary artery (LCA) of WT, NLRP3(-/-) and ASC(-/-) mice of both genders was ligated for 30 min followed by 3 or 24 h reperfusion. For pre-conditioning studies, the TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 or PBS was injected intraperitoneally 60 min prior to LCA ligation. For mechanistic investigations, blood plasmas and left ventricle tissues were collected, and a hypothesis-driven selection of protein or mRNA targets was investigated. Surprisingly, hearts from NLRP3-deficient mice featured larger infarct size than WT mice (p = 0.0048). In general, there were only modest changes with no significant pattern in myocardial infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages and systemic and myocardial cytokine expression between the three genotypes. Preconditioning with the TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 induced Akt phosphorylation and reduced infarct size in WT but not NLRP3 -or ASC -deficient hearts. CONCLUSION Absence of NLRP3 results in increased myocardial infarct size after in vivo ischemia reperfusion, seemingly due to dysfunction of the cardioprotective RISK pathway. Our data imply that NLRP3 contributes to cardio-protection during I/R and do not support a role for NLRP3 or ASC inhibition in the management of acute MI including revascularization therapy.

Prognostic Effect of High-Sensitive Troponin T Assessment in Elderly Patients With Chronic Heart Failure Results From the CORONA Trial

Background— The incremental prognostic value of high-sensitive troponin T (hs-cTnT) in heart failure (HF) beyond that of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide is debated. We examined the prognostic value of hs-cTnT in a subgroup of patients from the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in HF (CORONA) study. Methods and Results— Hs-cTnT as a risk factor for the primary end point (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke; n=356), as well as all-cause mortality (n=366), cardiovascular mortality (n=299), and the composite of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization from worsening of HF (n=465), was investigated in 1245 patients (≥60 years; New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II–IV, ischemic systolic HF) randomly assigned to 10 mg rosuvastatin or placebo. In multivariable analyses, adjusting for left ventricular ejection fraction, NYHA class, age, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, sex, intermittent claudication, heart rate, estimated glomerular filtration rate, apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio, amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and hs-cTnT (both dichotomized according to the 99th percentile and as a continuous variable) was associated with all end points (primary end point: hazard ratio, 1.87 and 1.51, respectively, per SD change; P<0.001; all other end points: hazard ratio, 1.39–1.70). However, improved discrimination as assessed by C-statistics was only seen for the primary end point and all-cause mortality. Conclusions— Elevated hs-cTnT levels provide strong and independent prognostic information in older patients with chronic ischemic HF. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00206310.

Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 3 in Chronic Heart Failure: Analysis from the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in Heart Failure (CORONA).

Background We have previously demonstrated an association between increased sFRP3 expression and adverse outcome in a population of HF irrespective of cause and left ventricular ejection fraction. In this study we evaluated the prognostic value of sFRP3 in older patients with chronic systolic HF of ischemic origin. Methods We evaluated sFRP3, by tertiles, as a risk factor for the primary endpoint (cardiovascular [CV] mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke), all-cause mortality, CV mortality, death from worsening HF (WHF), any coronary event, including sudden death, as well as hospitalizations for CV causes and WHF in 1444 patients from the CORONA population, randomly assigned to 10 mg rosuvastatin or placebo. Results Kaplan-Meier curves for the primary endpoint, as well as all-cause- and CV mortality revealed a markedly better survival for patients with sFRP3 levels in the middle tertile of compared to the 1st and 3rd tertile. In multivariable Cox-regression, after full adjustment including high-sensitive CRP and NT-proBNP, a lower event rate for the primary end point, all cause and CV mortality was observed for patients with tertile 2 sFRP3 levels (HR 0.57 [0.44–0.74], 0.55 [0.44–0.74] and 0.52 [0.39–0.69]; p<0.001), as well as for the number of coronary events (HR 0.62 [0.47–0.82], p = 0.001) and sudden death (HR 0.55 [0.37–0.82], p = 0.002). Applying sFRP3 values to the fully adjusted regression model resulted in highly significant continuous net reclassification improvements for the primary endpoint, all cause and CV mortality, coronary events and sudden death (range 0.24–0.31; p≤0.002 for all). Conclusions Intermediate serum sFRP3 levels are associated with better survival and fewer CV events than low or high sFRP3 levels, independently of conventional risk factors, in older patients with chronic systolic HF of ischemic origin. Our study suggests that balanced Wnt activity might confer protective effects in a clinical HF setting. Trial Registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00206310