Incliva is analyzing Klotho alfa and FGF23 as possible biomarkers in people over 64 years of age after acute coronary syndrome.
VALENCIA, October 28 (EUROPE PRESS) –
Cardiologist at the University Hospital of Valencia, Dr. Clara Bonanad, received a Basic or Translational Research Project in Cardiovascular Disease grant from the Spanish Society of Cardiology and the Spanish Heart Foundation for the work “Prognostic impact of Klotho alpha biomarkers.” and FGF23 in elderly patients with high-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Bonanad is part of the Geriatric Cardiology research stream within the Incliva Translational Coronary Artery Disease Study Group of the CB16/11/00486 Network Biomedical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease (CIBERCV).
The project also involves doctors Daniela Maidana, Andrea Arroyo, Guillermo Barreres, Carles Muñoz, Sergio García-Blas, Dasia Bompart, Francisca Esteve, Georgiana Zahara, Javier Damia and Enrique Rodríguez Borja, the Generalitat said in a statement.
The main objective of the study is to compare whether Klotho alfa and FGF23 can predict the risk of new cardiac problems in patients over 64 years of age after acute coronary syndrome, predict future problems such as decompensation due to heart failure, and explore their use in treatment.
The study of cardiovascular diseases and, especially, after acute coronary syndromes in elderly patients is relevant due to their high prevalence and complexity of the clinical picture. With age, physiological interactions become more complex, changing the body’s response to disease and treatment. Therefore, the influence of factors such as iron deficiency (iron deficiency), inflammation, and biological age on the prognosis of these patients is being investigated.
Similarly, there are new biomarkers of growing interest in patients with chronic kidney disease, which is a comorbidity that coexists in patients with acute coronary syndrome and has not been studied in the cardiovascular field.
Although recent studies have shown that Klotho alfa and FGF23 may play a crucial role in the development of kidney and cardiovascular diseases, they are still not considered prognostic factors or therapeutic targets in clinical practice due to the lack of conclusive scientific evidence. However, its potential contributions in these areas are promising and deserve detailed analysis.
ANTI-AGING AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MOLECULE
The study, which received a €15,000 grant from the Spanish Society of Cardiology and will last two years, will analyze the role of Klotho alfa as an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory molecule, as well as FGF23 as a pro-fibrotic molecule, with a particular focus on its association with acute coronary syndrome.
The possible association of these biomarkers with indicators of inflammation, as well as their association with the biological age and telomere length of patients with acute coronary syndrome, will be explored. Telomere length refers to telomeres, which are the end portions of chromosomes in all cells of the body, protect genetic material and can shorten over time, so aging and health are closely linked.
In addition to attempting to confirm their usefulness as prognostic biomarkers for the disease, their potential use in targeted therapy for its treatment will be explored. Klotho alpha is a key transmembrane protein involved in the regulation of mineral metabolism and longevity, mainly expressed in the kidney and brain.
Added to its role in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis are anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Decreased serum levels of Klotho-alpha (S-Klotho) are associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammation, and increased levels have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Lower plasma S-Klotho levels are associated with several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including higher body mass index, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. It may also lead to higher rates of cardiometabolic risk, especially in adult patients, and to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
FGF23
FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23) is a hormone secreted primarily by bone cells and plays a central role in the regulation of phosphocalcium metabolism. FGF23 acts through specific receptors to inhibit renal phosphate reabsorption and reduce the production of active vitamin D.
In addition, elevated levels of FGF23 are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including acute coronary syndrome. This observational, translational, single-center study, which will be conducted at the University Teaching Hospital of Valencia, will compare inflammatory status, telomere shortening, biological age and biomarkers Klotho alfa and FGF23 in patients with and without iron deficiency.
For this purpose, samples stored in the Incliva Biobank from patients included in previous projects of Dr. Clara Bonanad’s team, to which the current study provides continuity, will be used.
150 PATIENTS
The study will enroll 150 patients aged 64 years or older with a diagnosis of high-risk acute coronary syndrome, defined by the additional presence of at least one of the following factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease or previous stroke, multivessel disease (revascularized or not) or previous acute myocardial infarction and ability to understand and sign informed consent.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between these biomarkers (Klotho alfa and FGF-23), inflammation, biological age and telomere length to help improve the treatment of cardiovascular disease in older adults.
Patients will be monitored using blood tests from admission until 15 days after acute coronary syndrome, six months, one year and two years.
During the SEC24 Congress on Cardiovascular Health, held in Bilbao, the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) allocated approximately one million euros for research projects, scholarships and awards aimed at initiatives related to research and/or research training in cardiovascular diseases.