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Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in atrial fibrillation and acute congestive heart failure

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Abstract

Purpose

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute congestive heart failure (aCHF) are characterized by an adverse cardiac remodeling. Arrhythmogenic or structural remodeling can be caused by interstitial fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) represents a central regulator of cardiac fibrosis. This study investigates serum levels of TGF-beta 1 in patients with AF and aCHF.

Methods

401 patients presenting with symptoms of dyspnea or peripheral edema were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples for measurement of TGF-beta 1 (R&D Systems, Inc.) and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (DadeBehring ltd.) were collected after the initial clinical evaluation.

Results

Median TGF-beta 1 levels were lower in patients with AF (21.0 ng/ml, interquartile range (IR) 15.4–27.6 ng/ml, n = 107) compared to those without (25.0 ng/ml, IR 18.5–31.6 ng/ml, n = 294) (p = 0.009). Patients with aCHF had lower TGF-beta 1 levels (median 22.0 ng/ml, IR 15.6–27.1 ng/ml, n = 122) than those without (median 24.9 ng/ml, IR 18.1–31.9 ng/ml, n = 279) (p = 0.0005). In logistic regression models TGF-beta 1 was still associated with AF (odds ratio (OR) 3.00, 95% CI 1.37–6.61, p = 0.0001) and aCHF (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.55–10.19, p = 0.004). TGF-beta 1 inversely correlated with left atrial diameter (r = −0.30, p = 0.007) and NT-proBNP (r = −0.14, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Low serum levels of TGF-beta 1 are associated with AF and aCHF. This decrease may result from a higher consumption of TGF-beta 1 within the impaired myocardium or antifibrotic functions of natriuretic peptides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    Michael Behnes, Ursula Hoffmann, Siegfried Lang, Martin Borggrefe & Martina Brueckmann

  2. Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

    Parviz Ahmad-Nejad & Michael Neumaier

  3. Institute for Medical Statistics, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

    Christel Weiss

Authors
  1. Michael Behnes
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  2. Ursula Hoffmann
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  3. Siegfried Lang
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  4. Christel Weiss
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  5. Parviz Ahmad-Nejad
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  6. Michael Neumaier
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  7. Martin Borggrefe
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  8. Martina Brueckmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Behnes.

Additional information

M. Behnes and U. Hoffmann contributed equally to this study.

M. Brueckmann is an employee of Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and a lecturer of the Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

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Behnes, M., Hoffmann, U., Lang, S. et al. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in atrial fibrillation and acute congestive heart failure. Clin Res Cardiol 100, 335–342 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-010-0248-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-010-0248-1

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