Correlational study on altered epicardial adipose tissue as a stratification risk factor for valve disease progression through IL-13 signaling

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2019 Jul:132:210-218. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.05.012. Epub 2019 May 15.

Abstract

Aims: Genetic and environmental factors all interact in the risk of progression of valvular dysfunctions. Previous studies reported a relation between valve diseases and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness. The aim of this study was to verify the possible relationship between the molecular pattern of EAT related to IL-13 fibrogenic cytokine expression and valve dysfunction.

Methods and results: A valvular heart disease (VHD) population was stratified according to their median EAT thickness (7 mm). The molecular expression of IL-13 in EAT is directly related to the molecular expression of genes associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, macrophage infiltration and promotion of the formation of ectopic calcific nodules involved in aorta coarctation and calcification.

Conclusion: IL-13 gene expression in altered EAT is directly related to the expression of genes involved in ECM turnover and the formation of ectopic calcific nodules, suggesting measurements of EAT as a stratification risk factor for valve instability in the VHD patients.

Keywords: Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs); Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT); IL-13; TGFβ1; Valvular heart disease (VHD); Wnt.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Calcinosis / metabolism
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Epicardial Mapping
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Diseases / etiology
  • Heart Valve Diseases / metabolism
  • Heart Valve Diseases / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardium / pathology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Interleukin-13