UK College of Pharmacy Researchers Uncover New Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kentucky consistently ranks in the top 10 states for heart disease deaths.

The CDC reports more than 10,000 Kentuckians died of heart disease in 2017.

A new biomarker, uncovered by researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, could change cardiovascular care for patients with high risk of disease.  

Pharmacy graduate students David Henson and David Nardo worked with Vincent Venditto, assistant professor in the UK College of Pharmacy, to uncover potential new indicators of heart disease. Referred to as biomarkers, these indicators can be a sign that a patient is at risk for cardiovascular issues.

The group tested the association between adverse cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes, and Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), which is a protein that helps carry fats and cholesterol through the bloodstream. Their findings, recently published by American Heart Association Journals, identified a unique form of ApoA-I that has an immune molecule, or antibody, coupled with it. High levels of this ApoA-I/antibody complex are associated with improved patient outcomes. Coupling this with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good cholesterol,” and factors like family history, age, sex and smoking, may help doctors treat at-risk patients before their symptoms worsen.

“The implications for this data are exciting,” Venditto said. “We look forward to evaluating this biomarker in a larger cohort of patients and uncovering the role of this biomarker in cardiovascular disease.”

Past research has found that antibodies in circulation targeting ApoA-I increase the risk of heart disease, but this research found ApoA-I/antibodies as an unexplored component of the immune response that is associated with improved survival in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Biomarkers have become a critical component for creating preventative and individualized treatments for patients. Knowing about these biomarkers allow physicians to take a more proactive approach in cardiovascular care.  

“Our hope is that our research will bring Kentucky’s heart disease numbers down. If we remain persistent, pushing the boundaries of what we already know, we can lessen the impact of heart disease both in Kentucky and in the entire U.S.” said Nardo.

This research was funded through the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.