Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa)
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- Burden and challenges of heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease. A call to action(Elsevier, 2020) Martín, P.L. (Paloma L.); Moreno, M.U. (María Ujué); Ania-González, N. (Noelia); Lavilla, J. (Javier); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Beaumont, F.J. (Francisco J.); Romero-González, G. (Gregorio); Osacar, E. (Elena); De-Lorenzo, I. (Ignacio); Amézqueta, P. (Pilar); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Rojas, M.A. (Miguel Angel); Garcia-Fernandez, N. (Nuria); San-Jose, G. (Gorka); García-Trigo, I. (Isabel); González, O. (Omar); López, B. (Begoña); Diez, J. (Javier)Patients with the dual burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic congestive heart failure (HF) experience unacceptably high rates of symptom load, hospitalization, and mortality. Currently, concerted efforts to identify, prevent and treat HF in CKD patients are lacking at the institutional level, with emphasis still being placed on individual specialty views on this topic. The authors of this review paper endorse the need for a dedicated cardiorenal interdisciplinary team that includes nephrologists and renal nurses and jointly manages appropriate clinical interventions across the inpatient and outpatient settings. There is a critical need for guidelines and best clinical practice models from major cardiology and nephrology professional societies, as well as for research funding in both specialties to focus on the needs of future therapies for HF in CKD patients. The implementation of crossspecialty educational programs across all levels in cardiology and nephrology will help train future specialists and nurses who have the ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent HF in CKD patients in a precise, clinically effective, and cost-favorable manner.
- Beneficial aspects of vascular apoptosis in hypertensive heart disease(Krause and Pachernegg, 2000) Fortuño, A. (Ana); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Zalba, G. (Guillermo)Arterial hypertension may be viewed as a generalized vascular disorder, with an imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. As a consequence exaggerated accumulation of these cells may result leading to an encroachment of the tunica media into the lumen. This geometric abnormality of the vessel wall may play a critical role in the long-term maintenance of elevated blood pressure and development of hypertensive endorgan damage. In this short paper, we summarize data on alterations in the growth and death of vascular smooth muscle cells in the small coronary arteries in hypertension.
- The activity of circulating dipeptidyl peptidase-4 is associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(2013) Huerta, A. (Ana); Lopez-Salazar, M.B. (María Begoña); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Barba, J. (Joaquín); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Coma-Canella, I. (Isabel)Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) present subclinical left ventricular systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction (LVD). Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inactivates peptides that possess cardioprotective actions. Our aim was to analyze whether the activity of circulating DPP4 is associated with echocardiographically defined LVD in asymptomatic patients with T2DM. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined 83 T2DM patients with no coronary or valve heart disease and 59 age and gender-matched non-diabetic subjects. Plasma DPP4 activity (DPP4a) was measured by enzymatic assay and serum amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. LV function was assessed by two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging, targeted M-mode recordings and Doppler ultrasound measurements. Differences in means were assessed by t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Associations were assessed by adjusted multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses. Results: DPP4a was increased in T2DM patients as compared with non-diabetic subjects (5855 ± 1632 vs 5208 ± 957 pmol/min/mL, p < 0.05). Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters assessing LV morphology were similar across DPP4a tertiles in T2DM patients. However, prevalence of LVD progressively increased across incremental DPP4a tertiles (13%, 39% and 71%, all p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the independent associations of DPP4a with LVD in T2DM patients (p < 0.05). Similarly, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that an increase of 100 pmol/min/min plasma DPP4a was independently associated with an increased frequency of LVD with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.15, p = 0.001). Conclusions: An excessive activity of circulating DPP4 is independently associated with subclinical LVD in T2DM patients. Albeit descriptive, these findings suggest that DPP4 may be involved in the mechanisms of LVD in T2DM.
- Stimulation of cardiac apoptosis in essential hypertension: potential role of angiotensin II(American Heart Association, 2002) Querejeta, R. (Ramón); Lopez-Salazar, M.B. (María Begoña); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Fortuño, M.A. (María Antonia); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Larman, M. (Mariano)We investigated whether cardiac apoptosis is stimulated in the heart of hypertensive patients and whether angiotensin II plays a role in such alteration. The study was performed in 28 patients with essential hypertension and no evidence of either ischemic cardiomyopathy or heart failure. After randomization, 14 patients were assigned to losartan and 14 patients to amlodipine treatment. At baseline and after 12 months, right septal endomyocardial biopsies were performed, and the number of apoptotic nuclei was assessed by DNA end-labeling (TUNEL). In addition, immunostaining for the active form of caspase-3 was also performed to assess apoptosis. Compared with normotensive autopsied hearts, both cardiomyocyte and noncardiomyocyte apoptosis were increased (P<0.001) in hypertensive hearts. Time-course changes in blood pressure during treatment were similar in the 2 groups of patients. In losartan-treated patients, both cardiomyocyte and noncardiomyocyte apoptosis decreased (P<0.05). Neither cardiomyocyte nor noncardiomyocyte apoptosis changed significantly in amlodipine-treated patients. These findings indicate that apoptosis is abnormally stimulated in the heart of patients with essential hypertension. Our data also suggest that the ability of antihypertensive treatment to inhibit cardiac apoptosis is independent of its antihypertensive efficacy. We propose that angiotensin II may participate in the stimulation of cardiac apoptosis in essential hypertension.
- Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy risk: beyond adaptive cardiomyocytic hypertrophy(Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2011) Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Frohlich, E.D. (Edward D.)The heart is a remarkably adaptive organ, capable of increasing its minute output and overcoming short-term or prolonged pressure overload. The structural response, in addition to the foregoing functional demands, is that of myocardial hypertrophy. Then, why should an adaptive response increase cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)? Evidence shows that the functional performance of hypertrophied cardiomyocytes is impaired, and that additional alterations develop in cardiomyocytes themselves, the extracellular matrix and the intramyocardial vasculature, leading to myocardial remodelling and providing the basis for the adverse prognosis associated with pathological LVH in hypertensive patients (i.e., hypertensive heart disease, HHD). As molecular information accumulates, the pathophysiological understanding and the clinical approach to HHD are changing. The time has come to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the prognosis of HHD on the basis of reversing or even preventing the aforementioned changes in the ventricular myocardium.
- Association of low GLP-1 with oxidative stress is related to cardiac disease and outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study(Elsevier, 2015) Huerta, A. (Ana); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Barba, J. (Joaquín); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Coma-Canella, I. (Isabel); Beaumont, J. (Javier); López, B. (Begoña); Diez, J. (Javier)Oxidative stress (OS) contributes to cardiovascular damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) inhibits OS and exerts cardiovascular protective actions. Our aim was to investigate whether cardiac remodeling (CR) and cardiovascular events (CVE) are associated with circulating GLP-1 and biomarkers of OS in T2DM patients. We also studied GLP-1 antioxidant effects in a model of cardiomyocyte lipotoxicity. We examined 72 T2DM patients with no coronary or valve heart disease and 14 nondiabetic subjects. A median of 6 years follow-up information was obtained in 60 patients. Circulating GLP- 1, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity, and biomarkers of OS were quantified. In T2DM patients, circulating GLP-1 decreased and OS biomarkers increased, compared with nondiabetics. Plasma GLP-1 was inversely correlated with serum 3-nitrotyrosine in T2DM patients. Patients showing high circulating 3-nitrotyrosine and low GLP- 1 levels exhibited CR and higher risk for CVE, compared to the remaining patients. In palmitate-stimulated HL-1 cardiomyocytes, GLP-1 reduced cytosolic and mitochondrial oxidative stress, increased mitochondrial ATP synthase expression, partially restored mitochondrial membrane permeability and cytochrome c oxidase activity, blunted leakage of creatine to the extracellular medium, and inhibited oxidative damage in total and mitochondrial DNA. These results suggest that T2DM patients with reduced circulating GLP-1 and exacerbated OS may exhibit CR and be at higher risk for CVE. In addition, GLP-1 exerts antioxidant effects in HL-1 palmitate-overloaded cardiomyocytes. It is proposed that therapies aimed to increase GLP-1 may counteract OS, protect from CR, and prevent CVE in patients with T2DM.
- Increased fibroblast growth factor 23 in heart failure: biomarker, mechanism, or both?(Elsevier, 2019) Martín, P.L. (Paloma L.); Lavilla, F.J. (Francisco Javier); Ravassa, S. (Susana); Romero-González, G. (Gregorio); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Garcia-Fernandez, N. (Nuria); López, B. (Begoña); Diez, J. (Javier)
- Association of cardiotrophin-1 with myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive patients with heart failure(2014) Querejeta, R. (Ramón); Lopez-Salazar, M.B. (María Begoña); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Rabago, G. (Gregorio); Larman, M. (Mariano)Cardiotrophin-1 has been shown to be profibrogenic in experimental models. The aim of this study was to analyze whether cardiotrophin-1 is associated with left ventricular end-diastolic stress and myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive patients with heart failure. Endomyocardial biopsies from patients (n=31) and necropsies from 7 control subjects were studied. Myocardial cardiotrophin-1 protein and mRNA and the fraction of myocardial volume occupied by collagen were increased in patients compared with controls ( P <0.001). Cardiotrophin-1 overexpression in patients was localized in cardiomyocytes. Cardiotrophin-1 protein was correlated with collagen type I and III mRNAs ( r =0.653, P <0.001; r =0.541, P <0.01) and proteins ( r =0.588, P <0.001; r =0.556, P <0.005) in all subjects and with left ventricular end-diastolic wall stress ( r =0.450; P <0.05) in patients. Plasma cardiotrophin-1 and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and serum biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis (carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I and amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III) were increased ( P <0.001) in patients compared with controls. Plasma cardiotrophin-1 was correlated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ( r =0.386; P <0.005), carboxy- terminal propeptide of procollagen type I ( r =0.550; P <0.001), and amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III ( r =0.267; P <0.05) in all subjects. In vitro, cardiotrophin-1 stimulated the differentiation of human cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblasts ( P <0.05) and the expression of procollagen type I ( P <0.05) and III ( P <0.01) mRNAs. These findings show that an excess of cardiotrophin-1 is associated with increased collagen in the myocardium of hypertensive patients with heart failure. It is proposed that exaggerated cardiomyocyte production of cardiotrophin-1 in response to increased left ventricular end-diastolic stress may contribute to fibrosis through stimulation of fibroblasts in heart failure of hypertensive origin
- Myocardial fibrosis in chronic kidney disease: potential benefits of torasemide(Nature Publishing Group, 2008) Lopez-Salazar, M.B. (María Begoña); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Hermida, N. (Nerea); Laviades, C. (Concepción)Interstitial and perivascular fibrosis is a constant finding in heart biopsies and necropsy studies in patients with chronic kidney disease and hypertension, namely in those with left ventricular hypertrophy. Fibrosis is the result of the unbalance between exaggerated collagen synthesis and unchanged or depressed collagen degradation. A number of factors linked to hypertension and the progressive deterioration of renal function may facilitate such an unbalance. Patients with chronic kidney disease and hypertension are prone to develop diastolic heart failure, and myocardial fibrosis has been suggested as a major determinant of disturbances in diastolic function in these patients. Thus, the therapeutic strategies aimed to reduce cardiac fibrosis may provide a particular cardioprotective benefit in patients with chronic kidney disease. In this regard, recent data suggest that the loop diuretic torasemide reduces myocardial fibrosis and ameliorates cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure through local mechanisms beyond its effects on the renal excretion of fluid and electrolytes and systemic hemodynamics.
- Identification of a potential cardiac antifibrotic mechanism of torasemide in patients with chronic heart failure(Elsevier, 2007) Querejeta, R. (Ramón); Lopez-Salazar, M.B. (María Begoña); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Gonzalez, A. (Arantxa); Larman, M. (Mariano); Beaumont, J. (Javier)OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate whether torasemide inhibits the enzyme involved in the myocardial extracellular generation of collagen type I molecules (i.e., procollagen type I carboxy-terminal proteinase [PCP]). BACKGROUND: Torasemide has been reported to reduce myocardial fibrosis in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). METHODS: Chronic HF patients received either 10 to 20 mg/day oral torasemide (n = 11) or 20 to 40 mg/day oral furosemide (n = 11) in addition to their standard HF therapy. At baseline and after 8 months from randomization, right septal endomyocardial biopsies were obtained to analyze the expression of PCP by Western blot and the deposition of collagen fibers (collagen volume fraction [CVF]) with an automated image analysis system. The carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PICP) released as a result of the action of PCP on procollagen type I was measured in serum by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The ratio of PCP active form to PCP zymogen, an index of PCP activation, decreased (p < 0.05) in torasemide-treated patients and remained unchanged in furosemide-treated patients. A reduction (p < 0.01) in both CVF and PICP was observed in torasemide-treated but not in furosemide-treated patients. Changes in PCP activation were positively correlated (p < 0.001) with changes in CVF and changes in PICP in patients receiving torasemide. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the hypothesis that the ability of torasemide to reduce myocardial fibrosis in chronic HF patients is related to a decreased PCP activation. Further studies are required to ascertain whether PCP may represent a new target for antifibrotic strategies in chronic HF.