Elevated interleukin-6 levels are associated with impaired outcome in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis

Selina J Hein,Maximilian Knoll,Fabian Aus dem Siepen,Jennifer Furkel,Stefan Schoenland,Ute Hegenbart,Hugo A Katus,Arnt V Kristen,Mathias Konstandin

Selina J Hein,Fabian Aus dem Siepen,Department of Cardiology,Pneumology and Angiology,University Hospital Heidelberg,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Maximilian Knoll,Department of Radiation Oncology,Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center,German Cancer Research Center,University Hospital Heidelberg,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Jennifer Furkel,Department of Radiation Oncology,Heidelberg University Hospital,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Stefan Schoenland,Department of Hematology,Oncology and Rheumatology,Amyloidosis Center,Heidelberg University Hospital,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Ute Hegenbart,Department of Hematology,Amyloidosis Center,Heidelberg University Hospital,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Hugo A Katus,Mathias Konstandin,Department of Cardiology,Medical University Hospital Heidelberg,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Arnt V Kristen,Department of Cardiology,Amyloidosis Center,University of Heidelberg,Heidelberg,BW 69120,Germany

Abstract BACKGROUND Elevated interleukin (IL)-6-levels have been described in familial variant transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) associated polyneuropathy and heart failure.However,IL-6 in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) and its prognostic value have not been investigated yet.AIM We aim to study the correlation between IL-6 levels with clinical presentation(Gillmore-class) and outcome [heart transplantation or death (htx/death)],or the combined endpoint of cardiac decompensation or htx/death in ATTR-CM.METHODS IL-6 levels of 106 ATTR-CM patients [54 wild-type ATTRwt,52 ATTRv-CM],15 asymptomatic carriers of ATTR mutations (aATTRv-CM) and 27 healthy donors were quantified using Luminex technology.Statistical analysis was performed using parametric survival regression models.RESULTS We found that IL-6 levels from wild-type ATTR patients were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls,while aATTRv-CM carriers and ATTRv-CM patients did not show a significant difference.IL-6 levels showed significantly higher values in increasing Gillmore classes.Univariate analyses revealed association of low IL-6 levels with cardiac decompensation and htx/death [odds ratio:0.26 (0.09-0.72),P = 0.01] and htx/death [odds ratio:0.15 (0.04-0.58),P =0.006].However,in the multivariate model,no significant improvement of risk prediction was seen for IL-6,while established prognostic factors were significantly associated with outcome.CONCLUSION Raised IL-6 levels correlate with clinical presentation and are associated with worse outcome in ATTR-CM but do not improve stratification in addition to established risk factors.

Key Words:Transthyretin amyloidosis;Inflammation;Heart failure;Interleukin-6;Outcome;Risk stratification

INTRODUCTION

Systemic amyloidosis comprises a group of diseases leading to extracellular protein deposition in tissue resulting in organ dysfunction.Depending on the specific type of protein causing misfolding and amyloid formation,different organs are involved.In cardiac amyloidosis,protein deposition in myocardium is most frequently due to amyloid light chain or transthyretin (TTR) deposition[1].In transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR),two disease entities are found:Hereditary variant transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) and wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis[2].ATTRv results from a point mutation in theTTRgene.Until now,more than 100 different disease causing mutations are known.Depending on the mutation,patients present with leading neurological [familial transthyretin polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN)] or cardiac symptoms (ATTRv-CM)[3].Furthermore,thanks to increased awareness and also the establishment of new sensitive diagnostic methods,e.g.,99mTc-labelled bone scintigraphy and cardiac MRI,the incidence of ATTR amyloidosis in general and particularly of ATTRwt,has increased over the last years[4].In this disease entity,no mutation in the transthyretin gene is found.ATTRwt mainly affects elderly,predominantly male patients with cardiac symptoms leading.The clinical course of ATTR varies significantly within patients with rapid progression of symptoms,within a few months in some patients,and stable course for many years in others[2].Therefore,early identification of patients at high risk for a more aggressive course of the disease is crucial for the preservation of quality of life,exercise capacity and ultimately survival and early initiation of amyloid specific therapies.

In the last years the role of systemic inflammation for progression of cardiovascular disease in general has been established,especially in coronary heart disease.Elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels are described in patients suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF),atrial fibrillation and elevated N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP)[5].Furthermore,on a molecular level increased cardiac IL-6 and IL-6 receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels in myocardial tissue have been associated with worsening of heart failure[6].In animal models of pressure overload and heart failure inhibition of the IL-6 axis was protective[7].In very recent studies,association of inflammation and disease progression could be documented for amyloidosis too.Immunohistochemical detection of lymphocytes,macrophages and cytotoxic cells in cardiac specimen of light-chain amyloidosis (AL) and ATTR amyloidosis patients was associated with impaired outcome[8].Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood leukocytes was valuable for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with ATTR amyloidosis[9].Moreover,systemic inflammatory state quantified as cytokine panels in patients’ blood plasma has been described in hereditary amyloid polyneuropathy[10,11].In patients with ATTR-PN,data are inconsistent as IL-6 levels were found to be unchanged in ATTRv-PN patients and asymptomatic gene carriers compared to healthy controls[10].In another study,increased IL-6 levels were seen in ATTRv-PN patients and asymptomatic mutation carriers as well[11].

Since nothing is known about IL-6 in patients with ATTR-CM to date,the aim of the present study was to quantify the levels of IL-6 in peripheral blood in this cohort and analyze the correlation with clinical presentation and prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study population

Between July 2016 and October 2018,138 patients who consecutively presented in our tertiary referral center for amyloidosis at Heidelberg University Hospital were screened and asked to donate blood for this study.One patient declined study participation.Inclusion criteria were age ＞ 18 and ＜ 90 years,diagnosis of ATTRwt,ATTRv or asymptomatic carrier of a mutation causing ATTRv.Patients who suffered from AL amyloidosis (n= 7) were excluded due to other pathophysiologic disease mechanism.Patients who underwent liver transplantation (n= 1) or diagnosis remained unclear (n= 3) were excluded from study participation.Also,patients receiving TTR-lowering therapies (n= 5) were excluded due to reduction of disease driving protein.Patients who received TTR-stabilizer therapy,however,were eligible to participate in the study (n= 26),as dysfunctional protein is still present.These patients already received tafamidis 20 mg daily at study inclusion for grade 1 ATTR polyneuropathy during the whole follow-up period.Therefore,a total ofn= 121 patients were included in the present study and subscribed written informed consent approved by the ethical review committee Heidelberg (S-485-2016),in accordance to the declaration of Helsinki.To attain a control group,healthy volunteers were asked to donate blood,when echocardiography,clinical presentation and biomarkers were normal [high-sensitive troponin T,C-reactive protein (CRP) and NTproBNP] (n= 27).

Blood samples were attained with regular venipuncture during the medical visit.Therefore,one additional lithium heparin monovette (4.9 mL,Sarstedt,Nümbrecht,Germany) was collected and plasma was prepared by standard centrifugation.Samples were aliquoted and stored at -80 °C,conditions well established to have no impact upon IL-6 stability[12,13].After the inclusion of the last patient,IL-6 levels of all patients were measured simultaneously.

For subgroup analysis in Figure 1,patients were divided by positive cardiac TroponinT (cTnT) levels according to the estimated cutoff in our recent study[14].For subcohort definition regarding natriuretic peptide levels [glomerular filtration rate(GFR) adjusted NTproBNP],NTproBNP levels were adjusted to renal function as described by Luchneret al[15].

Echocardiography was conducted using 2D imaging,M-Mode,Doppler and Strain analyses.Ejection fraction was calculated from 2D echocardiography imaging and diastolic dysfunction was graded in accordance to current guidelines from the American Society of Echocardiography[16].Grade II and higher were considered as significant diastolic dysfunction.

Figure 1 Univariate analysis for clinical/laboratory/risk score parameters and interleukin-6.

Follow-up

Endpoint follow-up was performed by interviewing patients directly during outpatient visits orviaphone call after 12 mo.Additionally,patients’ files of subsequent hospitalization due to cardiac decompensation were analyzed.Prespecified endpoints were heart transplantation or death (htx/death) and a combination of htx/death or cardiac decompensation (major cardiac events,MACE).

Luminex assay

Plasma concentrations of IL-6 were quantified using the Luminex MAGPIX system(R&D systems,Minneapolis,MN,United States).IL-6 measurements were conducted in adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were conducted using R,v3.6.3[17].IL-6 concentrations were calculated from a standard curve attained by the standards provided by the Luminex kit.Values were fitted using a sigmoidal,three parameter,hill fit equation [f = a＊xb/(cb+ xb)].For further analysis,log transformed data were used.IL-6 values below the detection level were set to zero (n= 1).Measurements were transformed as described in[18]prior to log and z-transformation for subsequent analysis.

Time-to-event data were censored after 30 month.Median follow-up data were calculated with survreg using inverted event data.Confidence intervals were computed with the ciTools package[19].Cutoff selection for prognostic stratification of patients (smallestPvalues,minimum group size of 10%) was performed with the dataAnalysisMisc package[20].Cutoffs were calculated per endpoint.

Uni- and multivariate survival analyses were performed with parametric survival regression models assuming loglogistic distributed data.

Associations between diagnosis groups and patient characteristics were evaluated using analysis of variance or chi-squared tests for categorical and continuous variables,respectively.Significance level alpha was set to 5% (two-sided).

RESULTS

Study population

A total of 121 patients and 27 healthy controls participated in this study.In 50 patients,cardiac amyloidosis was confirmed by myocardial biopsy,56 patients were diagnosed by specific myocardial storage in 99m-TC-DPD-bone scintigraphy and concomitant serological exclusion of AL amyloidosis.Furthermore,15 asymptomatic gene carriers were diagnosed by familial history and genotyping.According to the examination results,patients were grouped into ATTRwt (n= 54),symptomatic ATTRv-CM (n= 52)and asymptomatic aATTRv-CM (n= 15).

The ATTRv-CM group consists of patients with mutations at Val30Met (n= 18),Val20Ile (n= 11),Ile107Val (n= 5),Leu58His (n= 6),Cys10Arg (n= 4),Val122Ile (n=3),Ala45Thr (n= 1),Ile84Asn (n= 1),Ile107Phe (n= 1),Arg34Gly (n= 1),Thr126Arg (n= 1).Furthermore,the asymptomatic mutation carriers were Val20Ile (n= 5),Val30Met(n= 6),Val122Ile (n= 1),Cys10Arg (n= 1),Ile107Val (n= 1),Ile84Thr (n= 1).Table 1 presents clinical characteristics of study participants.

ATTRwt patients were significantly older and primarily male patients.Furthermore,treatment with diuretics,beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors was more common in the ATTRwt group.In electrocardiogram (ECG),atrial fibrillation was more common in ATTRwt patients compared to both other patient groups,and ATTRwt patients presented higher prevalence of bundle branch blocks and were significantly more often equipped with pacemakers.Furthermore,diabetes was more often recorded in their medical history as co-existing diseases.Serologically,ATTRwt patients presented higher cTnT and NTproBNP levels as well as lower GFR compared to both other groups.This resulted in higher clinical risk classes when classification was specified according to Gillmoreet al[4].In echocardiography,ATTRwt patients presented more pronounced myocardial hypertrophy and lower ejection fraction than patients from the two other groups.

During the recruitment period of the study,Tafamidis was only approved for ATTRv patients with concomitant polyneuropathy;therefore,treatment with Tafamidis was significantly more frequent in the ATTRv group.IL-6 levels did not show significant differences in patients treated with Tafamidis (Supplementary Figure 1).New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was higher in ATTRwt.All other variables tested (body mass index,antihypertensive medication,times in the ECG and echocardiographic parameters) were not significantly different between groups.

IL-6 is elevated in ATTRwt patients and rising with Gillmore class in ATTR-CM patients

In healthy controls,median IL-6 level was 4.18 pg/mL (median absolute deviation(mad):0.8) and in aATTRv-CM IL-6 was 4.18 (0.61) pg/mL as well (Figure 2A).

Symptomatic patients with hereditary ATTRv-CM showed slightly increased levels of IL-6 with 4.58 pg/mL (0.81) not reaching significance (P= 0.63).In contrast,ATTRwt patients showed significant increased median IL-6 levels compared to controls[5.52pg/mL (1.59),P= 0.03].IL-6 levels showed an increase from control and Gillmore class 1 to Gillmore classes 2 and 3 (trend-test,P＜ 0.001).Median IL-6 levels were significantly increased in Gillmore 2 and 3vsGillmore 1 (Figure 2B).

Table 1 Patient characteristics

ACE:Angiotensin converting enzyme;AT1:Angiotensin type 1;ATTRv:Variant transthyretin amyloidosis;ATTRwt:Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis;BMI:Body mass index;NtproBNP:N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide;ECG:Electrocardiogram;GFR:Glomerular filtration rate;IVS:Intravenous sedation;MAPSE:Mitral annular plane systolic excursion;NYHA:New York Heart Association;TAPSE:Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion;TNT:TroponinT.

Figure 2 Interleukin-6 values are depicted according to study group or Gillmore class.

IL-6 is associated with cardiovascular events in ATTR-CM

IL-6 levels were analyzed using parametric survival models to identify best separating cutoffs for the prognostic separation of patients for both evaluated endpoints.For death/htx endpoint,a cutoff of -0.24,corresponding to 4.68 pg/mL was identified(low:n= 78;high:n= 70).

For MACE,a cutoff of -0.31,corresponding to 4.85 pg/mL,was identified (low:n=72;high:n= 76).For 117 of 148 patients (79%),follow-up after index event was available.Median follow-up was 13.5 [95% confidence interval (CI):11.6-15.7] months for death/htx and 13.6 (95%CI:11.7-15.9) months for MACE.

During follow-up period,19 patients died,six were listed for high urgent heart transplantation,two died waiting for the organ and two patients were successfully transplanted.Fourteen patients were hospitalized due to cardiac decompensation requiring additional treatment with diuretics for recompensation.Twenty-four patients reached at least one of the prespecified combined endpoints.Patients with increased IL-6 levels had a higher risk for MACE (P= 0.01) or death/htx (P= 0.006)(Figure 3).

IL-6 allows improved risk prediction in NTproBNP positive patients and in cTnT negative patients

Two well established biomarkers for risk stratification in ATTR-CM are cTnT and NTproBNP levels[21-23].Therefore,we repeated our risk assessment for patients in these two high-risk subgroups.In patients with low NTproBNP levels,no prespecified endpoint was observed during follow-up.In patients with elevated NTproBNP levels(above 450 ng/mL[24-26]),high IL-6 levels were significantly associated htx/death (P=0.01) and a clear trend for increased incidence of MACE could be observed (P= 0.052).Dividing our cohort according to the established cutoff for cTnT of 50 ng/mL identified in the groups with cTnT negative group a prognostic separation for death/htx endpoint (P= 0.02) and a borderline significant prognostic separation for MACE (P= 0.049).In the cTnT negative group no significant prognostic separation was found (Figure 4).

IL-6 is no independent risk predictor in ATTR-CM

To estimate the value of IL-6 for the prespecified endpoints htx/death as well as MACE,we performed an univariate survival analysis for established risk parameters as age,NYHA classification,gender,GFR,echocardiographic parameters (mitral annular plane systolic excursion,end diastolic diameter,septum thickness,estimated heart weight) and Gillmore class and biomarkers (cTnT,NTproBNP).Furthermore inflammatory markers as CRP and leukocyte count were included as well as IL-6.As shown in Figure 1,age,NYHA class,GFR,cTnT,NTproBNP,heart weight,septum thickness,Gillmore class and IL-6 showed significant association with htx/death.The same characteristics were also significantly associated with MACE,but also CRP levels and EDD showed a significant correlation with MACE.The odds ratio (OR) for low IL-6 and htx/death was 0.15 (P= 0.006),and for MACE,OR of lowvshigh IL-6 was 0.26 (P= 0.01).

To test for independent risk prediction of IL-6,a multivariate analysis was calculated including IL-6 and all other parameters significant in the univariate model except for the combined feature Gillmore.However,in the multivariate model,IL-6 did not improve risk stratification,neither for htx/death [OR:0.42;95%CI (0.06-2.83);P= 0.37] nor MACE [OR:1.11;95%CI (0.23-5.29);P= 0.89] (Supplementary Figure 2).

DISCUSSION

In the present monocentric prospective study,elevated IL-6 levels were found in patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis but not aATTRv-CM carriers or ATTRv-CM patients.IL-6 concentrations correlated with severity of clinical presentation as quantified in the Gillmore classification.Furthermore,IL-6 levels were significantly associated with clinical outcome as death/htx or MACE in the univariate analysis.However,in the multivariate analysis IL-6 did not show a significant additional value over established risk predictors.

Elevated IL-6 levels have been described in amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis and ATTRv-PN.AA amyloidosis is a secondary amyloidosis in chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g.,rheumatoid arthritis)[27].In these patients,application of the human monoclonal antibody tocilizumab directed against the IL-6 receptor induced rapid clinical improvement without influencing the amyloid deposits[28,29].Therefore,for AAamyloidosis the IL-6 axis is known to be causally involved in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory disease.In contrast,for ATTRv-PN data are inconsistent:Increased IL-6 levels were found independent from clinical presentation:Asymptomatic mutation carriers as well as symptomatic ATTRv-PN patients show increased IL-6 levels[11].On the other hand no differences for IL-6 were seen in the study by Azevedoet al[10]in the same cohort.These data suggest that mutated TTR might be able to evoke an inflammatory state but not sufficient to establish the disease.Therefore,other factors have to be present,which are not identified yet.In contrast,in our cardiac cohort ATTRwt patients show elevated IL-6 levels,however,aATTRv-CM carriers or ATTRv-CM patients did not.Therefore,in patients with preferentially cardiac manifestation of ATTR amyloidosis,IL-6 rather seems to be secondary to the manifestation of the disease as sign of heart failure but not preceding the organ affection and,therefore,not causing the manifestation in the first hand.

In the large BIOSTAT-CHF cohort (n= 2329 patients) IL-6 levels were elevated in patients with heart failure and HFpEF,atrial fibrillation or elevated NTproBNP levels[5].These clinical findings are often present in ATTR-cardiomyopathy patients as well.During the last years new diagnostic methods and novel therapeutic approaches raised awareness for ATTR cardiomyopathy enabling differentiation between cardiac amyloidosis and HFpEF from other reasons.On a molecular basis,activation of the IL-6 axis is known to induce concentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in rats,which might contribute to the pathology in ATTR-CM[30].In line with these data,a correlation of IL-6 levels with clinical severity and prognosis of ATTR-CM could be observed in the herein project;however,in the multivariate analysis including well established risk factors no additional value was seen in the IL-6 quantification.Therefore,IL-6 rather seems to be a factor associated with heart failure irrespective of the underlying disease.

Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier curves for combined,decompensation and death or heart transplantation endpoints for dichotomized interleukin-6.

CONCLUSION

Taken together,raised IL-6 levels correlate with clinical presentation and are associated with worse outcome in ATTR-CM,but do not improve stratification in addition to established risk factors.Since molecular animal studies suggest a contribution of IL-6 to the manifestation of heart failure and pathological remodeling[7,31],a study interfering with the IL-6 axis is needed to prove this concept in patients with heart failure in general and ATTR-CM amyloidosis specifically.Our data show an association to severity and prognosis of the disease;evidence for causality in the pathogenesis cannot be provided here.Since the multivariate analysis did not show a significant association,further research is needed to improve risk stratification.

Figure 4 Kaplan-Meier curves for combined,decompensation and death or heart transplantation endpoints for dichotomized interleukin-6 in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and TroponinT stratified patients.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

In transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR),protein deposition leads to myocardial thickening and heart failure,which is defined as ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).Recently,evidence was raised that inflammation might be associated with disease progression in ATTR polyneuropathy and heart failure.But until now little is known about the inflammatory state in ATTR-CM.Therefore,we measured IL-6 levels in ATTR-CM and analyzed its predictive value for cardiac outcome.

Research motivation

In ATTR-CM stable disease over several years as well as rapidly progressive disease courses are described.This discrepancy might results from differences in immunological response to myocardial protein deposits in ATTR-CM.

Research objectives

The objective of the study was to investigate differences in IL-6 levels and evaluate its predictive value for cardiovascular outcome (death/heart transplantation,decompensation or a combined endpoint).

Research methods

In this monocentric prospective study,106 ATTR-CM patients were included,and IL-6 levels were measured using Luminex technology.Follow-up period was 12 mo,and statistical analysis was performed using parametric survival regression models.

Research results

IL-6 is associated with outcome in ATTR-CM but does not improve risk stratification in addition to established risk prediction parameters.The study thereby provides evidence that IL-6 axis might be involved in the pathogenesis of ATTR-CM.To investigate this hypothesis further,additional studies are needed.

Research conclusions

The study showed that IL-6 is associated with outcome in ATTR-CM but does not add further risk stratification potential to established risk prediction models.

Research perspectives

Further studies are needed to investigate inflammatory response in ATTR-CM.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We like to acknowledge our gratitude to Elisabeth Kliemank and Thomas Fleming for their support conducting the Luminex experiments.Furthermore we like to thank Shabana Din for editing the manuscript.