Study reveals two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence or other MACEs

The life-threatening medical condition affects 100,000 people in the UK every year

Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the University of Bristol have revealed two proteins that could contribute to stroke recurrence or other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Published in Stroke, the study has identified new genetic markers in inflammation that could help identify drug targets to prevent or stop stroke-related disability and mortality.

Affecting 100,000 people in the UK every year, a stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

More specifically, people who experience an arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischaemic stroke have an increased risk of suffering a second stroke or other MACE.

In the study, researchers utilised genetic information and medical history from 93,422 individuals who had an incident stroke, including 51,929 who had subsequent MACE and 45,120 who had subsequent AIS, from two large biobanks: the Million Veteran Program and the UK Biobank.

After conducting ancestry-specific genome-wide association studies to determine links between DNA and incident and subsequent AIS and MACE, researchers observed two significant genetic variants: rs76472767, near gene RNF220 on chromosome one in the African ancestry GWAS for subsequent MACE, and rs13294166, near gene LINC01492 on chromosome nine in the same ancestry GWAS for subsequent AIS.

The team also identified CCL27 and TNFRSF14, two proteins associated with subsequent MACE but not initial strokes, which are known to activate inflammation and play a key role in the development of strokes as well as many other chronic conditions and diseases.

Andrew Elmore, senior research associate, health data science, Medical Bristol School, University of Bristol, said: “We were able to identify a link between certain molecules that play a part in inflammation and these stroke and MACE outcomes,” which could help to identify novel drug targets for new therapeutic interventions to prevent stroke progression and recurrences.