Proteomic Profiling of Pulmonary Function and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Pulmonary function is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.
• Identifying protein biomarkers could elucidate these links and inform risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify protein biomarkers associated with pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity).
• To examine the impact of these proteins on incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), and all-cause mortality.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of prospective cohort data from White and Black Americans (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study).
• Linear regression for protein-pulmonary function associations; logistic regression and Cox models for outcome prediction.
• Pathway enrichment and Mendelian randomization to explore biological functions and causality.

Main Results:

• 364 proteins were associated with pulmonary function (p<0.05).
• 112 proteins linked to all four outcomes; 86 increased risk (OR/HR 1.05-1.42), 26 reduced risk (OR/HR 0.69-0.96).
• Six proteins, including integrin α1β1, showed potential inverse causal effects; integrin α1β1 associated with reduced risk of COPD, CHD, and HF.

Conclusions:

• Proteins associated with pulmonary function may play a role in CVD risk.
• Six proteins, notably integrin α1β1, are promising targets for future therapeutic interventions.