Breadcrumbs of evidence suggesting the heart has an endocrine function aside from its mechanical circulatory role had been hinted at in the mid-20th Century, but it wasn't until 1981 when the first clear evidence that the heart had true endocrine function (bioactive hormone and receptor) was documented. This initial report identified the first member of the natriuretic peptide (NP) family - known as ANP - and pioneered a new research field known as cardio-endocrinology. Within 30 years, the field of cardio-endocrinology had expanded to acknowledgement of the fact that proteins/DNA/RNA/lipids/metabolites from just about every organ in the body can affect cardiac function and stability, either directly or indirectly. Thus, whilst the heart contains and releases NPs (ANP and BNP) to promote vascular relaxation and renal diuresis, protein factors from the immune system (suPAR), bone marrow/normoblasts (ERFE), nervous system (urocortins), kidney (EPO), stomach (Ghrelin), vasculature (CNP/adrenomedullin) and multi-organ present stress markers (GDF-15) provide physiologic and clinical information regarding cardiovascular status. Alongside these proteins, circulating DNA/RNA (of many varieties), lipids and peptide/protein metabolites also provide molecular signals and information that reflect nuclear/cytosolic transcription & translation, proteolytic degradation and energy expenditure in nascent and fulminant cardiovascular disease states, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and acute heart failure.
This talk will provide a snapshot of some of these factors and their biomarker capability, as well as efforts directed towards their pharmacological use and/or modulation of cardiovascular diseases to reduce the burden on patients and health systems