Plasma osteopontin reveals left ventricular reverse remodelling following cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure

Abstract Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) promotes left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling and affects myocardial collagen turnover in heart failure (HF) patients. Osteopontin (OPN) is a matrix glycoprotein required for the activation of fibroblasts upon TGF-β1 stimulation. In humans, plasma OPN and OPN-expressing lymphocytes correlate with the severity of HF. We sought to evaluate whether plasma OPN and TGF-β1 reflect LV reverse remodelling following CRT. Methods Eighteen patients (12 men, mean age 65 ± 11 years) undergoing CRT were studied. Patients underwent baseline clinical and echocardiographic evaluation, and assessment of plasma OPN and TGF-β1. The evaluation was repeated 8.5 ± 4 months after device implantation. Eight healthy age- and sex-matched subjects served as controls. Results In HF patients, baseline plasma OPN and TGF-β1 were higher as compared to control subjects (OPN: 99 ± 48 vs 59 ± 22 ng/ml; p < 0.05; TGF-β1: 15.9 ± 8.0 vs 9.3 ± 5.6 ng/ml; p < 0.05). At follow-up, 12 patients responded to CRT and showed LV reverse remodelling, whereas 6 did not. Plasma OPN decreased in CRT responders (108 ± 47 vs 84 ± 37 ng/ml; p = 0.03) and increased in non-responders (79 ± 58 vs 115 ± 63 ng/ml; p < 0.01). TGF-β1 showed a trend towards reduction in responders (17.5 ± 8.7 vs 10.2 ± 8.9 ng/ml; p = 0.08) and was unchanged in non-responders. A significant correlation (r = − 0.56; p = 0.01) was found between relative changes of LVESV and plasma OPN. Conclusions CRT-induced LV reverse remodelling is reflected by changes in plasma OPN. Circulating OPN may represent a marker of LV dilation/impairment and an indicator of the response to HF therapies promoting LV reverse remodelling.