Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.

The lectin-like oxidised low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) mediates atherosclerotic plaque inflammation and vulnerability. On activation, LOX-1 sheds its extracellular domain into the circulation as soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1). sLOX-1 is markedly elevated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

We prospectively assessed the associations between plasma sLOX-1 and the development of heart failure (HF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and coronary and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in two cohorts of patients with ACS. The first cohort comprised 524 patients recruited during the acute index event at the coronary care unit of Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. The second cohort included 363 patients with ACS treated with acute percutaneous intervention at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Additionally, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of LOX-1 blockade in vitro using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

In the first cohort, acute-phase sLOX-1 was associated with incident HF and MACE independently of cardiovascular risk factors, revascularisation and medication (HR per 1-SD sLOX-1 increase: 1.57 (95% CI: 1.10 to 2.23; p=0.012) for HF and 1.36 (1.08 to 1.71; p=0.009) for MACE). Elevated sLOX-1 was also associated with lower LV ejection fraction and accelerated remodelling, as measured by echocardiography at 1-year post-ACS. In the second cohort, sLOX-1 was negatively associated with left anterior descending coronary artery flow reserve and LV systolic function, and positively correlated with soluble markers of systemic inflammation and cardiac overload at 4 and 16 weeks post-ACS. In vitro, antibody-mediated LOX-1 blockade prevented oxidised low-density lipoprotein-induced HUVEC activation.

Elevated plasma sLOX-1 at baseline and during follow-up is associated with incident HF and MACE, as well as cardiac and coronary dysfunction in patients with ACS. As plasma sLOX-1 levels may reflect the intensity of LOX-1 expression on vascular and immune cells, these findings support LOX-1 as a potentially important therapeutic target to improve prognosis in patients with ACS.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR) injury drives adverse remodeling and heart failure after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), yet no therapy directly targets the fibrotic response. Here, we developed a good manufacturing practice-compatible extracellular vesicle (EV)-enriched secretome from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and identified a laminin-521-based production strategy suitable for clinical translation. The EV-enriched secretome exhibited in vitro immunomodulatory activity, and in murine MIR-injury models, treatment preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ)-associated myofibroblast activation quantified by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, attenuated fibrosis, and promoted reparative macrophage polarization. In a clinically relevant porcine ischemia-reperfusion model, intracoronary administration was cardioprotective. We further developed a clinically approved PDGFRβ-targeted PET-imaging platform for longitudinal assessment of fibrotic activity in STEMI patients, where preliminary observations suggest that myofibroblast activation persists for up to 2 months after STEMI in selected patients. Together, these findings establish a translational therapeutic-diagnostic framework for individualized management of MIR injury.

AZD5462 is the first oral selective relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 agonist in clinical development. The aim of this mechanistic study is to investigate the renal effects of AZD5462 when administered on top of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in participants with heart failure and moderate renal impairment. AURORA is a phase 1b, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2-centre study of AZD5462 on top of dapagliflozin as standard of care in 2 arms. Approximately 40 participants with heart failure with ejection fraction ≤50% and moderate renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m², inclusive) will be randomized 1:1 to AZD5462 or placebo tablets for a treatment period of 4 weeks. All participants will be standardized to 10 mg dapagliflozin prior to AZD5462 administration, and dapagliflozin as standard of care will continue until the end of the follow-up period. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the renal and haemodynamic effects of AZD5462 compared with placebo on top of dapagliflozin on natriuresis, albuminuria, haematocrit, fluid balance, cardiorenal biomarkers, and systemic hemodynamics. The safety and tolerability of AZD5462 will be further evaluated compared with placebo on top of dapagliflozin. AURORA is a phase 1b pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and safety study of AZD5462 on top of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and renal impairment.