Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine
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Inflammatory and immune signaling has been documented as a root cause of many cardiovascular pathologies. In this review, we explore the emerging role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling axis in atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, pathologic cardiac hypertrophy or heart failure, myocarditis, and sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. We discuss the current understanding of cardiac inflammation in heart disease, present the TRAF6 signaling axis in the heart, then summarize what is known about TRAF6 in pathophysiology of heart disease including proof-of-concept studies that identify the utility of blocking TRAF6 to attenuate cardiac dysfunction, which suggests that TRAF6 is a novel, druggable target in treating cardiovascular disease incurred by inflammatory processes.
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It is assumed that platelets in diseased conditions share similar properties to platelets in healthy conditions, although this has never been examined in detail for myocardial infarction (MI). We examined platelets from patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) compared with platelets from healthy volunteers to evaluate for differences in platelet phenotype and function. Platelet activation was examined and postreceptor signal transduction pathways were assessed. ⋯ Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) protein content and enzymatic activity were several-fold greater in platelets with MI than in control. Mean plasma MMP9 concentration in patients with MI distinguished between STEMI and NSTEMI (area under curve [AUC] 75% [confidence interval (CI) 60-91], P = 0.006) which was superior to troponin T (AUC 66% [CI 48-85, P = 0.08), predicting STEMI with 80% sensitivity (95% CI 56-94), 90% specificity (CI 68-99), 70% AUC (CI 54-86, P < 0.0001), and NSTEMI with 50% sensitivity (CI 27-70), 90% specificity (CI 68-99), 70% AUC (CI 54-86, P = 0.03). Platelets from patients with STEMI and NSTEMI show differences in platelet surface receptor activation and postreceptor signal transduction, suggesting the healthy platelet phenotype in which antiplatelet agents are often evaluated in preclinical studies is different from platelets in patients with MI.