Search

Background: Population aging has increased together with the need for cardiovascular care. Understanding the relevance of cardiovascular conditions in the very old is crucial to developing a specific and rationale therapeutic approach. Centenarians can be considered a model of successful aging, although the impact of cardiovascular disease in this population is still unclear. Aim: To evaluate the cardiovascular health status of a subset of centenarians enrolled in the Centenari a Trieste study and living in the province of Trieste to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions among them. Methods: The current study included 20 individuals born before 1919 and living in the province of Trieste as of 1 May 2019. All centenarians were able to give consent and were subjected to an in-home complete clinical assessment focused on cardiovascular conditions, ECG and echocardiography. Results: The majority of centenarians were women (85%) and were not taking any chronic cardiovascular medication (55%). No centenarians had a history of ischemic heart disease while about one-third had signs suggestive of heart failure at examination (20%). Atrial fibrillation was present in 20% of individuals and conduction disorders were uncommon. Although the majority of individuals had a preserved left ventricular function, diastolic function was abnormal in 80% of enrolled centenarians that, however, was mild in 73% of cases. Conclusion: This is the second study to perform in-home echocardiography in centenarians and the first to characterize the cardiovascular status of centenarians living in Trieste. The majority of centenarians had asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction and were naïve from cardiovascular therapy. The recruitment of new individuals from the Trieste area is continuing to perform analyses on clinical, genetic and environmental factors that may predict greater longevity in this geographical context and unveil mechanisms that regulate cardiac aging associated with increased lifespan.

Several lines of evidence have clearly indicated that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis and of its thrombotic complications such as acute coronary syndromes or ischemic stroke. Thus, it has been postulated that the use of anti-inflammatory agents might be extremely useful to improve cardiovascular outcome. Recently, increasing attention has been reserved to one of the oldest plant-derived drugs still in use in clinical practice, colchicine that has been used as drug to treat inflammatory diseases such gout or Mediterranean fever. To date, current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology have included colchicine as first line choice for treatment of acute and recurrent pericarditis. Moreover, several studies have investigated its role in the clinical scenarios of cardiovascular disease including chronic and acute coronary syndromes with promising results. In this review, starting from a description of the mechanism(s) involved behind its anti-inflammatory effects, we give an overview on its potential effects in atherothrombosis and finally present an updated overview of clinical evidence on the role of this drug in cardiovascular disease.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia with an estimated prevalence of 1% in the general population. It is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, silent cerebral ischemia, and cognitive impairment. Due to the blood flow stasis and morphology, thrombus formation occurs mainly in the left atrial appendage (LAA), particularly in the setting of nonvalvular AF (NVAF). Previous studies have shown that >90% of emboli related to NVAF originate from the LAA, thus prevention of systemic cardioembolism is indicated. According to the current guidelines, anticoagulant therapy with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), represents the standard of care in AF patients, in order to prevent ischemic stroke and peripheral embolization. Although these drugs are widely used and DOACs have shown, compared to VKAs, non-inferiority for stroke prevention with significantly fewer bleeding complications, some issues remain a matter of debate, including contraindications, side effects, and adherence. An increasing number of patients, indeed, because of high bleeding risk or after experiencing life-threatening bleedings, must take anticoagulants with extreme caution if not contraindicated. While surgical closure or exclusion of LAA has been historically used in patients with AF with contradictory results, in the recent years, a novel procedure has emerged to prevent the cardioembolic stroke in these patients: The percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). Different devices have been developed in recent years, though not all of them are approved in Europe and some are still under clinical investigation. Currently available devices have shown a significant decrease in bleeding risk while maintaining efficacy in preventing thromboembolism. The procedure can be performed percutaneously through the femoral vein access, under general anesthesia. A transseptal puncture is required to access left atrium and is guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Evidence from the current literature indicates that percutaneous LAAO represents a safe alternative for those patients with contraindications for long-term oral anticoagulation. This review summarizes scientific evidences regarding LAAO for stroke prevention including clinical indications and an adequate patient selection.

Introduction Platelets activation/aggregation with subsequent thrombus formation is the main event in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome. Once activated, platelets show an extensive cytoskeleton rearrangement that leads to recruitment of additional platelets to finally cause haemostatic plug formation. Thus, the cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon. Colchicine (COLC) is an anti-inflammatory drug proven to reduce major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. The molecular mechanisms by which COLC exerts these protective effects remain partially still unknown. Since COLC causes disruption of tubulin, a component of cell cytoskeleton, we investigated whether this drug might interfere with platelet aggregation by acting on cytoskeleton rearrangement. Methods and results Platelets isolated from healthy volunteers were activated with Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP, 20 μM) Collagen (COLL, 60 μg/ml) and Thrombin Activating Receptor Peptide (TRAP 25 μM) with/without COLC 10 μM pretreatment. After stimulus, aggregation was measured by light aggregometry overtime. Microtubules structure was assessed by immunohistochemistry and key proteins involved in regulation of actin-filament assembly and contractility such as Myosin Phosphatase Targeting subunit (MYPT), LIM domain kinase 1(LIMK1) and cofilin were evaluated by Western Blot analysis. Colchicine pretreatment significantly blunted ADP/COLL/TRAP-induced platelet aggregation (up to 40%). COLC effects appeared mediated by microtubules depolymerization and cytoskeleton disarrangement associated to inactivation of MYPT and LIMK1 that finally interfered with cofilin activity. Conclusions Our data indicate that colchicine exerts anti-platelet effects in vitro via inhibition of key proteins involved in cytoskeleton rearrangement, suggesting that its beneficial cardiovascular properties may be due, at least in part, to an inhibitory effect of platelet activity.

Worldwide increase in life expectancy is a major contributor to the epidemic of chronic degenerative diseases. Aging, indeed, simultaneously affects multiple organ systems, and it has been hypothesized that systemic alterations in regulators of tissue physiology may regulate this process. Cardiac aging itself is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and, because of the intimate relationship with the brain, may contribute to increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. Blood-borne factors may play a major role in this complex and still elusive process. A number of studies, mainly based on the revival of parabiosis, a surgical technique very popular during the 70s of the 20 th century to study the effect of a shared circulation in two animals, have indeed shown the potential that humoral factors can control the aging process in different tissues. In this article we review the role of circulating factors in cardiovascular aging. A better understanding of these mechanisms may provide new insights in the aging process and provide novel therapeutic opportunities for chronic age-related disorders.

In the last twenty years, our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in formation, progression and complication of atherosclerotic plaque has advanced significantly and the main role of inflammation and immunity in this phenomenon is now largely accepted. Accumulating evidence highlight the crucial role of different inflammatory and immune cells, such as monocytes and T-lymphocytes, in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic lesion, particularly in contributing to its complications, such as rupture or ulceration. According to the new terminology, "vulnerable plaque" identifies an inflamed atherosclerotic lesion that is particularly prone to rupture. Once disrupted, prothrombotic material is exposed to the flowing blood, thus activating coagulation cascade and platelet aggregation, ultimately leading to acute thrombus formation within the coronary vessel. To date this is the key event underlying the clinical manifestation of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The degree of vessel occlusion (complete vs. incomplete) and the time of blood flow cessation will define the severity of clinical picture. This phenomenon seems to be the final effect of a complex interaction between different local and systemic factors, involving the degree of inflammation, type of cells infiltration and the rheological characteristics of blood flow at the site of plaque rupture, thrombogenic substrates within the atherosclerotic lesion and different soluble mediators, already present or acutely released in the circulating blood. This article will review currently available data on the pathophysiology of ACS, emphasizing the immunological and inflammatory aspects of vulnerable plaque. We may postulate that intraplaque antigens and local microenvironment will define the immune-inflammatory response and cells phenotype, thus determining the severity of clinical manifestations. In the last twenty years, our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation, progression and complication of atherosclerotic plaque has advanced significantly and the main role of inflammation and immunity in this phenomenon is now largely accepted. Accumulating evidence highlight the crucial role of different inflammatory and immune cells, such as monocytes and T-lymphocytes, in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic lesion, particularly in contributing to its complications, such as rupture or ulceration. According to the new terminology, “vulnerable plaque” identifies an inflamed atherosclerotic lesion that is particularly prone to rupture. Once disrupted, prothrombotic material is exposed to the flowing blood, thus activating coagulation cascade and platelet aggregation, ultimately leading to acute thrombus formation within the coronary vessel. To date this is the key event underlying the clinical manifestations of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The degree of vessel occlusion (complete vs. incomplete) and the time of blood flow cessation will define the severity of clinical picture. This phenomenon seems to be the final effect of a complex interaction between different local and systemic factors, involving the degree of inflammation, type of cells infiltration and the rheological characteristics of blood flow at the site of plaque rupture, thrombogenic substrates within the atherosclerotic lesion and different soluble mediators, already present or acutely released in the circulating blood. This article will review currently available data on the pathophysiology of ACS, emphasizing the immunological and inflammatory aspects of vulnerable plaque. We may postulate that intraplaque antigens and local microenvironment will define the immune-inflammatory response and cells phenotype, thus determining the severity of clinical manifestations.

The world population is aging, and by 2017, there will be more people over the age of 65 than under age 5, and by 2050, two billion of the estimated nine billion people on Earth will be older than 60. Aging itself is a major cardiovascular risk factor, affecting morbidity and mortality of the aging population. At the same time, aging increases the likelihood of the presence of other risk factors. The aged myocardium is characterized by several structural and functional progressive changes that impair its ability to respond appropriately to stressful conditions. Although some progress to understand the complex mechanisms that underlie these phenotypic changes, the molecular pathways that determine the balance between aging and rejuvenation in the aged myocardium still remain elusive. In this article, we review molecular mechanisms responsible for the phenotypic changes observed with aging in the heart, providing insight into molecular pathways and pharmacological interventions that may rejuvenate the aged myocardium. A better understanding of these pathways is essential for determining their therapeutic potential in humans, improving the possibility that the increase in life expectancy that we are observing will be accompanied by a parallel increase in healthspan.

High plasma levels of low density lipoproteins (LDLs) represent one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as shown by many epidemiological studies. On the other hand, randomized trials designed to address the clinical impact of lipid lowering interventions, have clearly shown that reduction in LDL plasma levels lead to a significant decrease in major cardiovascular events. Based on these observations, pharmacological modulation of LDLs has been highly investigated. Statins, alone or in combination, represent the most powerful agents to date available to reach the LDLs levels suggested by the current guidelines. However, in some patients the recommended LDL reduction is difficult to be achieved because of genetic background (familial hypercholesterolemia), side effects (statin intolerance), or simply because of a non-sufficient response. In the last few years, our understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in the lipoprotein metabolism has progressed significantly. The crucial role of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged. The main characterized function of PCSK9 relates to the binding to LDL-C receptors (LDLR) in hepatocytes. However, PCSK9 does not interfere with the binding between LDL and its own receptor, but with the ability of the latest to return to the surface of the hepatocyte and bind new LDL molecules. Based on these observations, blocking PCSK-9 may reduce the LDLR clearance, thus increasing the ability of LDLR to remove circulating LDLs. Pharmacological inhibition of this protein has been proposed as new therapeutic approach. The clinical evidence available to date seem to fully support this hypothesis.

Rationale: Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and GDF8 are members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily sharing 89% protein sequence homology. We have previously shown that circulating GDF11 levels decrease with age in mice. However, a recent study by Egerman et al reported that GDF11/8 levels increase with age in mouse serum. Objective: Here, we clarify the direction of change of circulating GDF11/8 levels with age and investigate the effects of GDF11 administration on the murine heart. Methods and Results: We validated our previous finding that circulating levels of GDF11/8 decline with age in mice, rats, horses, and sheep. Furthermore, we showed by Western analysis that the apparent age-dependent increase in GDF11 levels, as reported by Egerman et al, is attributable to cross-reactivity of the anti-GDF11 antibody with immunoglobulin, which is known to increase with age. GDF11 administration in mice rapidly activated SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling in myocardium in vivo and decreased cardiac mass in both young (2-month-old) and old (22-month-old) mice in a dose-dependent manner after only 9 days. Conclusions: Our study confirms an age-dependent decline in serum GDF11/8 levels in multiple mammalian species and that exogenous GDF11 rapidly activates SMAD signaling and reduces cardiomyocyte size. Unraveling the molecular basis for the age-dependent decline in GDF11/8 could yield insight into age-dependent cardiac pathologies.

Summary Cell therapy can improve cardiac function in animals and humans after injury, but the mechanism is unclear. We performed cell therapy experiments in genetically engineered mice that permanently express green fluorescent protein (GFP) only in cardiomyocytes after a pulse of 4-OH-tamoxifen. Myocardial infarction diluted the GFP + cardiomyocyte pool, indicating refreshment by non-GFP + progenitors. Cell therapy with bone marrow-derived c-kit + cells, but not mesenchymal stem cells, further diluted the GFP + pool, consistent with c-kit + cell-mediated augmentation of cardiomyocyte progenitor activity. This effect could not be explained by transdifferentiation to cardiomyocytes by exogenously delivered c-kit + cells or by cell fusion. Therapy with c-kit + cells but not mesenchymal stem cells improved cardiac function. These findings suggest that stimulation of endogenous cardiogenic progenitor activity is a critical mechanism of cardiac cell therapy.

Help the Aged Muscle function declines with age, as does neurogenesis in certain brain regions. Two teams analyzed the effects of heterochronic parabiosis in mice. Sinha et al. (p. 649 ) found that when an aged mouse shares a circulatory system with a youthful mouse, the aged mouse sees improved muscle function, and Katsimpardi et al. (p. 630 ) observed increased generation of olfactory neurons. In both cases, Growth Differentiation Factor 11 appeared to be one of the key components of the young blood.