Characteristics of Protein Profiling and Biomarkers in Aortic Regurgitation With Heart Failure

Valvular heart disease, particularly aortic valve disease including stenosis and regurgitation, is a common heart disease. This study aimed to explore the protein profiling and the biomarkers in severe aortic valve disease and to provide new insights into the therapeutic strategy.

Blood samples from 80 subjects were collected and analyzed by data independent acquisition technique in 3 comparisons (mild/moderate-control, severe-control, and severe-mild/moderate) and validated by ELISA. The diagnostic value of differentially expressed proteins associated with severe valvular heart disease was also evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

A total of 9976 peptides and 451 proteins were identified through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. From these, 64 in mild/moderate-control, 50 in severe-control, and 50 in severe-mild/moderate comparisons were identified as differentially expressed proteins. IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7; 5581.0±697.0 ng/mL), DSG1 (desmoglein-1; 21.0±2.0 pg/mL), ADIPOQ (adiponectin; 26 686.0±3730 ng/mL), and JUP (junction plakoglobin; 10.2±0.6 ng/mL) levels in the severe group were significantly higher than that in the mild/moderate (P<0.05) group. Additionally, ADIPOQ and JUP levels in the severe group were also higher than that in control (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that IGFBP7, DSG1, JUP, and ADIPOQ had strong potential value to be associated with severe aortic valve disease.

By constructing proteomics profile to identify the protein characteristics this study found that increased IGFBP7, DSG1, JUP, and ADIPOQ are the characteristics of proteins in patients with severe valvular heart disease. These findings provide new insight into the diagnosis and pathogenesis of valvular heart disease, particularly aortic valve disease.