Selected Publication:

SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb

Schäfer, K; Tello, K; Pak, O; Richter, M; Gierhardt, M; Kwapiszewska, G; Veith, C; Fink, L; Gall, H; Hecker, M; Kojonazarov, B; Kraut, S; Lo, K; Wilhelm, J; Grimminger, F; Seeger, W; Schermuly, RT; Ghofrani, HA; Zahner, D; Gerstberger, R; Weissmann, N; Sydykov, A; Sommer, N.
Decreased plasma levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor correlate with right heart congestion in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
ERJ Open Res. 2023; 9(2): Doi: 10.1183/23120541.00230-2022 [OPEN ACCESS]
Web of Science PubMed FullText FullText_MUG

 

Co-authors Med Uni Graz

Kwapiszewska-Marsh Grazyna

Altmetrics:

Dimensions Citations:

Plum Analytics:

Scite (citation analytics):

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may promote development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) failure. However, BDNF plasma levels were decreased in patients with left ventricular (LV) failure. Therefore, we investigated BDNF plasma levels in pulmonary hypertension patients and the role of BDNF in mouse models of pulmonary hypertension and isolated RV failure. METHODS: BDNF plasma levels were correlated to pulmonary hypertension in two patient cohorts, including either post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients (first cohort) or only pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients (second cohort). In the second cohort, RV dimensions and load-independent function were determined by imaging and pressure-volume catheter measurements, respectively. For induction of isolated RV pressure overload, heterozygous Bdnf knockout (Bdnf^+/- ) mice were subjected to pulmonary arterial banding (PAB). For induction of pulmonary hypertension, mice with inducible knockout of BDNF in smooth muscle cells (Bdnf/Smmhc knockout) were exposed to chronic hypoxia. RESULTS: Plasma BDNF levels were decreased in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Following adjustment for covariables, BDNF levels negatively correlated in both cohorts with central venous pressure. In the second cohort, BDNF levels additionally negatively correlated with RV dilatation. In animal models, BDNF downregulation attenuated RV dilatation in Bdnf^{+ /-} mice after PAB or hypoxic Bdnf/Smmhc knockout mice, although they developed pulmonary hypertension to a similar extent. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to LV failure, circulating levels of BDNF were decreased in pulmonary hypertension patients, and low BDNF levels were associated with right heart congestion. Decreased BDNF levels did not worsen RV dilatation in animal models, and thus, may be the consequence, but not the cause of RV dilatation.

© Med Uni Graz • Imprint