Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

2-Vessel Occlusion/Hypotension: A Rat Model of Global Brain Ischemia
09:29

2-Vessel Occlusion/Hypotension: A Rat Model of Global Brain Ischemia

Published on: June 22, 2013

20.9K

TWEAK-Fn14: a promising target for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and brain-heart syndrome

Qinglin Fei1,2, Jun Chang3, Tingcan Jiang1,2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|April 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The TWEAK-Fn14 pathway is crucial in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) and brain-heart syndrome (BHS). Targeting this axis offers a promising strategy for co-treating brain and heart conditions in BHS.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) are leading causes of death and disability globally.
  • Brain-heart syndrome (BHS) involves complex brain-heart interactions that worsen outcomes.
  • The TWEAK-Fn14 axis is implicated in both cerebral injury and cardiac dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical roles of the TWEAK-Fn14 axis in CCVDs.
  • To discuss the interplay between the brain and heart in BHS.
  • To highlight TWEAK-Fn14 as a potential therapeutic target for BHS.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on TWEAK-Fn14 in CCVDs and BHS.
  • Analysis of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of the TWEAK-Fn14 axis in brain-heart interactions.

Main Results:

  • TWEAK and Fn14 are overexpressed in conditions affecting the brain and heart.
  • The TWEAK-Fn14 axis contributes to brain pathologies like BBB damage and neuroinflammation.
  • This axis also drives cardiac issues including inflammation, apoptosis, and hypertrophy.

Conclusions:

  • The TWEAK-Fn14 axis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of CCVDs and BHS.
  • Targeting the TWEAK-Fn14 pathway presents a novel therapeutic avenue for BHS.
  • Further research into this axis could lead to improved co-treatments for brain and heart conditions.

Keywords:
TWEAK-Fn14brain-heart syndromecardiovascular diseasescerebrovascular diseasesimmuno-inflammation

More Related Videos

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis07:51

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: September 26, 2018

8.2K
Performing Permanent Distal Middle Cerebral with Common Carotid Artery Occlusion in Aged Rats to Study Cortical Ischemia with Sustained Disability09:11

Performing Permanent Distal Middle Cerebral with Common Carotid Artery Occlusion in Aged Rats to Study Cortical Ischemia with Sustained Disability

Published on: February 23, 2016

23.4K

Related Concept Videos

Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications01:18

Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications

Cardiovascular diseases, encompassing a range of conditions, can significantly affect the heart's operations and the overall circulatory system. These conditions impair the heart's ability to pump blood, leading to a deficit in oxygen supply to crucial organs. Anomalies in the heart's electrical system, known as arrhythmias, can cause heartbeats to accelerate or slow down. Usually, heart rates increase during physical activity and decrease while resting or sleeping. However,...
4.7K
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
721
Arteries of the Head and Neck01:26

Arteries of the Head and Neck

The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
4.7K
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview01:17

Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview

Ischemic heart disease occurs when the heart's blood supply dwindles, causing an ominous lack of oxygen and nutrients. This deficiency, stemming from reduced or obstructed blood flow, spells danger, leading to heart muscle damage and dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
4.1K
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction01:17

Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction

A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
1
Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
1