Although the fundamental abnormality in heart failure is an impairment of the heart's ability to fill and/or empty, secondary changes in other organs frequently co-exist. In addition to renal impairment, which is common in HF, it is also well known that changes in other systems, including the liver, lungs, gut and brain occur in HF. Whilst these changes can cause symptoms in isolation, emerging evidence indicates that dysfunction in other organs can accelerate the process of heart failure.
Our team is investigating the process by which so-called "inter-organ cross-talk" occurs in HF. Using a combining approach in both patients and experimental systems, we are analysing patterns of the release of a broad range of potential signals that might create messaging signals. Examples of the signals include small molecules, proteins and nucleic acids (miRNAs).