Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42853063›Full record

ArticleESC heart failure2026

Integrated miRNA-cytokine profiling reveals a molecular signature of cachexia in patients with chronic heart failure.

Federica Tambaro, Giovanni Imbimbo, Carmen Gallicchio, Paolo Nardozi, Simona Orlando, Roberta Belli, Cesarina Ramaccini, Stefan D Anker, Alessio Molfino, Maurizio Muscaritoli

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Article in ESC heart failure, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Federica TambaroDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Giovanni ImbimboDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Carmen GallicchioDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Paolo NardoziDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Simona OrlandoDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Roberta BelliExperimental Immunology Laboratory, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
Cesarina RamacciniDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Stefan D AnkerDepartment of Cardiology (CVK) of German Heart Center Charité, German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) Partner Site Berlin, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-0805-8683
Alessio MolfinoDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Maurizio MuscaritoliDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.

Funding

CUP B53C22004000006CUP B89J21032850001CUP PE_00000019European UnionSEED PNR 2021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCardiac cachexia (CC) complicates chronic heart failure (CHF). Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines, such as growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21), may reflect the catabolic-anabolic imbalance and structural remodelling associated with this syndrome. To define the circulating signature of CHF by profiling muscle and remodelling-related miRNAs alongside GDF-15 and FGF-21, and to assess their associations with cardiac function and clinical phenotypes.

methodsTwenty-five CHF patients (median age 78.0 years, 40% male) and 10 controls (median age 56.8 years, 60% male) were studied. CC was defined as unintentional, non-oedematous weight loss ≥6% within 6 months. Circulating miRNAs were quantified by RT-qPCR, GDF-15 and FGF-21 by ELISA. CHF patients were classified as having reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Associations with CC and clinical CHF phenotypes were evaluated.

resultsCompared with controls, CHF patients showed lower levels of miR-15b, miR-29b, miR-133a, and miR-486 (all P < .01) and elevated GDF-15 levels (P < .001). FGF-21 was higher in patients with CC (P = .012), in HFrEF vs HFpEF (P = .039), and in NYHA III-IV vs I-II (P = .05). miR-29b levels were lower in CC (P = .019) and in HFrEF + CC vs HFpEF + nCC (P = .019). In CC, FGF-21 inversely correlated with miR-486 (ρ = -.69, P = .035), whereas GDF-15 inversely correlated with miR-21 (ρ = -.81, P = .007).

conclusionsCHF is associated with miRNA suppression and elevated stress cytokine levels, amplified in CC. miR-29b and FGF-21 showed associations with CC, functional impairment, and structural remodelling, warranting validation in larger longitudinal cohorts.

Indexed as

CachexiaCytokinesFibroblast Growth FactorsGene Expression RegulationGrowth Differentiation Factor 15Heart FailureMicroRNAsAgedBiomarkersChronic DiseaseEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedStroke VolumeBiomarkersCytokinesfibroblast growth factor 21Fibroblast Growth FactorsGDF15 protein, humanGrowth Differentiation Factor 15MicroRNAsCardiac cachexiaCardiac remodellingChronic heart failureFGF-21GDF-15microRNA

Identifiers

PMID42853063

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.