Impact of post-translational modifications of albumin and other biomolecules on the organ crosstalk

Impact of post-translational modifications of albumin and other biomolecules on the organ crosstalk

Despite the introduction of lipid-lowering drugs, antihypertensives, antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapies for primary prevention of pathophysiologic organ-crosstalk, it remains the number one cause of death globally, raising the question for novel/further essential factors besides traditional risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure and coagulation.

With continuous identification and characterization of non-enzymatic post-translationally modified isoforms of proteins like albumin and lipoproteins, it is becoming increasingly clear that irreversible non-enzymatic post-translational modifications (nPTMs) alter the biological functions of native proteins and lipoproteins thereby transforming innate serum components into pathophysiologic mediators.

In particular renal insufficiency and metabolic imbalance are major contributors to the systemically increased concentration of reactive metabolites and thus increased frequency of nPTMs, promoting multi-morbid disease development by the cross-talk of different organs. Evidently, nPTMs are significantly involved in the pathophysiologic organ-crosstalk and represent a significant and novel factor. These insights represent potentially new avenues for risk assessment, prevention and therapy.

This presentation discusses the recent knowledge on the pathological impact of nPTMs on pathophysiologic organ-crosstalk development, novel nPTM-associated non-traditional risk factors, and clinical implication of nPTM in the organ-crosstalk.