Mayo Genomic Discovery: Protecting Kidney Function During Heart FailureJune 16, 2009ROCHESTER, Minn. - Mayo Clinic cardiology researchers have found a peptide that helps preserve and improve kidney function during heart failure, without affecting blood pressure. Earlier variations of this peptide caused blood pressure to drop limiting the potential benefits to the kidneys. The findings appear in the current Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Heart failure itself and some of the approaches used to treat it can have detrimental effects on the kidneys," says Mayo cardiologist and lead researcher Robert Simari, M.D. "Our hope is that this compound will help protect kidney function while you're being treated, and possibly shorten your hospital stay and keep you out of the hospital." This new peptide (a unique link of amino acids) has been tested in the laboratory and in animal models and is expected to move into clinical trials next year. "One of the biggest additional concerns for patients with heart failure is the health of their kidneys," says Dr. Simari. "The extreme case is that it can lead to the kidneys shutting down completely." Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and fluid retention. All can occur when heart function is impaired. Seven Years of Research The mapping of the human genome (2000-2003) revealed a gene that produces a protein called BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide). BNP was not only useful in diagnosing heart problems, it also proved therapeutic in treating heart failure. Unfortunately, says Dr. Simari, it had limited use because many heart failure patients experience low blood pressure and BNP lowered it further. The Mayo investigators discovered an alternative splicing (AS) of BNP in messenger RNA (produced by the same gene). When they shortened the amino acid sequence of ASBNP for testing, they found that it had the same therapeutic benefits as BNP, but without the side effects to blood pressure. Positive impacts include increasing the kidney filtration rate, suppressing harmful protein production, and keeping water and salt flowing from the body. Potentially, this new drug would be given by IV to patients who are being treated in the hospital. "There's an important reduction of kidney function every time one of these acute heart failure episodes happens," says Dr. Simari. "And by stopping one or more of those decrements, we hope there will be an overall improvement in long-term maintenance of kidney function." Others on the team include Shuchong Pan, M.D., Ph.D., Horng Chen, M.D., Guido Boerrigter, M.D., Candace Lee, Laurel Kleppe, Amir Lerman, M.D., Margaret Redfield, M.D., John Burnett, Jr., M.D., all from Mayo Clinic, and Deborah Dickey, Ph.D., Jennifer Hall, Ph.D., and Lincoln Potter, Ph.D., all from the University of Minnesota. The research was funded by Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, and Anexon, Inc. Mayo Clinic and five of the investigators associated with this research have a financial interest in the technology studied in the research. In accordance with the Bayh-Dole Act, that technology has been licensed to Anexon. Mayo Clinic and Drs. R. Simari and Dr. S. Pan have received royalties from the licensing of that technology of greater than the federal threshold for significant financial interest. Drs. J.Burnett, M.Redfield and H.Chen have received royalties less than the federal threshold for significant financial interest. In addition, Mayo Clinic holds an equity position in Anexon. Mayo Clinic |
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| Related Heart Failure Current Events and Heart Failure News Articles Inhibition of GRK2 is protective against acute cardiac stress injuries Inhibition of a protein known to contribute to heart failure also appears to be protective of the heart in more acute cardiac stress injury, namely ischemia reperfusion. Young athletes need dual screening tests for heart defects, study suggests To best detect early signs of life-threatening heart defects in young athletes, screening programs should include both popular diagnostic tests, not just one of them, according to new research from heart experts at Johns Hopkins. Protein changes in heart strengthen link between Alzheimer's disease and chronic heart failure A team of U.S., Canadian and Italian scientists led by researchers at Johns Hopkins report evidence from studies in animals and humans supporting a link between Alzheimer's disease and chronic heart failure, two of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Elevated biomarkers lead to diminished quality of life in heart attack patients post-discharge Many heart attack patients have high levels of cardiac biomarkers in the blood for several months after leaving the hospital, with more shortness of breath and chest pain, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study. Tiny particles can deliver antioxidant enzyme to injured heart cells Researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed microscopic polymer beads that can deliver an antioxidant enzyme made naturally by the body into the heart. New study links vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease and death While mothers have known that feeding their kids milk builds strong bones, a new study by researchers at the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City suggests that Vitamin D contributes to a strong and healthy heart as well - and that inadequate levels of the vitamin may significantly increase a person's risk of stroke, heart disease, and death, even among people who've never had heart disease. When seconds count: Interventional radiology treatment for pulmonary embolism saves lives Catheter-directed therapy or catheter-directed thrombolysis-an interventional radiology treatment that uses targeted image-guided drug delivery with specially designed catheters to dissolve dangerous blood clots in the lungs-saves lives and should be considered a first-line treatment option for massive pulmonary embolism, note researchers in the November Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. Texas Children's discharges first pediatric patient with implanted mechanical heart device Texas Children's Hospital is the nation's first pediatric hospital to discharge a child while on an intracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD), a feat previously accomplished only at adult institutions. Researchers develop innovative imaging system to study sudden cardiac arrest A research team at Vanderbilt University has developed an innovative optical system to simultaneously image electrical activity and metabolic properties in the same region of a heart, to study the complex mechanisms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Experts unveil new CVD guidelines and position papers Several new guidelines and position papers offering the most up to date information to ensure that clinicians practice evidence-based medicine were released at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009 this week. More Heart Failure Current Events and Heart Failure News Articles |
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