MyoClonal: biomarkers for heart failure

José Javier Fuster

Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III - CNIC, Spain

Until recently, the acquisition of mutations in blood-forming stem cells was thought to be relevant only to cancer. However, there is growing evidence that it is also a hallmark of ageing. Indeed, several human studies have shown that people carrying certain mutations in blood cells – a condition called clonal haematopoiesis – have high mortality rates, mainly due to cardiovascular disease.

Scientists have observed a potential connection between these mutations and the development of heart failure, a disease which develops when the heart does not pump enough blood for the body’s needs.

MyoClonal is a collaborative project which will combine studies in humans and mice to further our understanding of the relevance of clonal haematopoiesis in cardiovascular disease. The researchers will conduct an in-depth study into the effect on heart failure of different acquired mutations in blood cells. The knowledge they generate will be used to improve the management of heart failure patients, who often require frequent hospitalisations and are at high risk of death.

• Nuria Lopez-Bigas, ICREA - Institut de Recerca Biomèdica (IRB Barcelona), Spain

• Antoni Bayés Genís, Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Spain

• Domingo Andrés Pascual Figal, Fundación para la Formación e Investigación Sanitarias de la Región de Murcia, Spain

• Manel Esteller Badosa, Fundació Institut de Recerca contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras (Institut Josep Carreras), Spain

Somatic mutations and clonal hematopoiesis as predictors and drivers of heart failure progression

€998,043.28