Abstract 185: Using the Platelet Proteome to Identify Novel Biomarkers in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Introduction: The platelet proteome is an untapped resource for identifying novel proteins that may reflect a disease process. The platelet proteome is understudied in heart failure. We hypothesize that the platelet proteome will change composition in patients with heart failure with ejection fraction (HFpEF). Using mass-spectral analysis, we examined the platelet proteome from subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) to identify proteins associated with the disease process. Methods/Results: We conducted a case-controlled prospective study in which we drew blood samples from hospitalized subjects with symptoms of HFpEF (n=9), the same subjects several weeks later without symptoms (n=7) and control subjects (n=8). The subjects with HFpEF were older and had a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation and smoking compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in body mass index, and history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease or diabetes. The HFpEF group had increased LV wall thickness, left atrial volume, and diastolic dysfunction. Mass spectrometry of the platelet rich abstract obtained from the blood samples of the 3 groups identified 6,102 proteins with 5 scans with peptide probabilities of ≥0.85. Of the 6,102 proteins, 165 were present only in symptomatic subjects, 78 were only found in asymptomatic subjects and 157 proteins were unique to the control group. S100A8 and its receptor, CD36 were two proteins identified consistently in HFpEF samples when compared with controls. Using ELISA, we further confirmed that plasma S100A8 levels were increased in subjects with HFpEF (728±358) vs. control (314±154). Conclusion: Platelets may harbor proteins associated with HFpEF. S100A8 is present in the platelets of subjects with HFpEF and increased in the plasma of the same subjects. S100A8 has been linked with other cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis and risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. This is the first report on the association between S100A8 and HFpEF.