Are circulating levels of osteopontin closely related to glomerular filtration rate and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with chronic kidney disease?
There is a close inverse association between GFR and circulating OPN in patients with CKD. Furthermore, OPN plasma levels correlate with established cardiovascular risk markers in patients with CKD. Assessment of renal function is important for the interpretation of OPN levels in patients with atherosclerotic disease.
Our data demonstrate a dose-dependent relation between Pitx2 expression and the expression of AF susceptibility genes, calcium handling, and microRNAs and identify a complex regulatory network orchestrated by Pitx2 with large impact on atrial arrhythmogenesis susceptibility.