Soluble CD40 ligand in acute and chronic heart failure
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells
Published on: March 5, 2010
Thor Ueland1, Pål Aukrust, Arne Yndestad
1Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, N-0027 Oslo, Norway. thor.ueland@klinmed.uio.no
Insights
Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels are elevated in heart failure (HF) patients, particularly those with severe disease, diabetes, or hypertension. These elevated sCD40L levels persist and may indicate a pathogenic role in human HF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis.
- CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions are crucial in atherogenesis and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CD40L in human HF.
- To assess serum levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L) in patients with acute and chronic HF.
Main Methods:
- Serum sCD40L levels were measured in 236 acute HF patients post-myocardial infarction and 116 chronic HF patients.
- Longitudinal follow-up of acute HF patients treated with ACE-inhibition or angiotensin II blockade for 2 years.
- Analysis of sCD40L levels in relation to HF severity, comorbidities, and treatments like warfarin, captopril, and losartan.
Main Results:
- Acute HF patients exhibited increased sCD40L, especially those with severe HF, diabetes, or hypertension.
- sCD40L levels remained persistently elevated in acute HF patients, unaffected by captopril or losartan.
- Warfarin therapy was associated with a lack of sCD40L increase during follow-up.
- Chronic HF patients showed elevated sCD40L correlated with clinical severity, neurohormonal dysregulation, and left ventricular dysfunction.
- Evidence suggests the vasculature and failing myocardium may produce sCD40L in chronic HF.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced CD40-CD40L interactions may play a pathogenic role in human HF.
- sCD40L serves as a potential biomarker for HF severity and progression.
Aims:
Inflammatory cytokines may play a pathogenic role in heart failure (HF). CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions are important in atherogenesis and based on its role in inflammation we sought to evaluate the role of CD40L in human HF.
Methods And Results:
Serum levels of soluble (s) CD40L were measured in 236 patients with acute HF following myocardial infarction, treated with either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibition or angiotensin II blockade and followed for 2 years, and in 116 patients with chronic HF. Our main findings were: (i) patients with acute HF had increased sCD40L levels, particularly those with severe HF, diabetes, or hypertension; (ii) when these patients were followed longitudinally, persistently raised sCD40L levels were found throughout the observation period with no effect of captopril or losartan; (iii) the increase in sCD40L during follow-up was not seen in patients receiving warfarin therapy; (iv) patients with chronic HF also had raised sCD40L, significantly correlated with clinical severity, neurohormonal dysregulation, and left ventricular dysfunction; (v) studies from different blood compartments suggest that the vasculature of lower extremities and the failing myocardium itself may produce and secrete sCD40L in chronic HF.
Conclusion:
Our findings may suggest a pathogenic role for enhanced CD40-CD40L interactions in human HF.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management