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Published on: April 9, 2013

Effect of chronic heart failure on nuclear factor kappa B in peripheral leukocytes

Stefan Frantz1, Stefan Stoerk, Sami Ok

  • 1Medizinische Klinik der Universität Würzburg, Germany. frantz_s@medizin.uni-wuerzburg.de

The American Journal of Cardiology
|September 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation is significantly increased in peripheral leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure. This finding highlights NF-kappaB as a potential biomarker for heart failure progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a key transcription factor involved in cellular responses.
  • NF-kappaB activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure.
  • Peripheral leukocytes are accessible for noninvasive study in heart failure patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activation status of NF-kappaB in peripheral leukocytes of patients with stable heart failure.
  • To determine if NF-kappaB activation is a feature of heart failure independent of other known stimuli.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of NF-kappaB activation in peripheral leukocytes obtained from heart failure patients.
  • Assessment of NF-kappaB activation in individuals with stable heart failure and no other apparent cause for activation.

Main Results:

  • Significant activation of NF-kappaB was observed in the peripheral leukocytes of patients with stable heart failure.
  • This activation was noted in the absence of other obvious triggers for NF-kappaB induction.

Conclusions:

  • NF-kappaB is significantly activated in peripheral leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure.
  • This suggests a potential role for NF-kappaB as a biomarker in heart failure management and research.

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