Title: Cardiohepatic interactions in the pathogenesis of heart failure
Abstract:
In heart failure, pump function is impaired, blood flow is reduced, and energy metabolism in tissues and organs throughout the body becomes dysfunctional. The liver is the largest organ in the human body and plays a central role in lipid and sugar metabolism, protein synthesis, detoxification, and bile acid production. It has long been known that there is an interaction between the heart and liver via blood circulation and the autonomic nervous system, especially in acute and chronic heart failure, which can cause acute ischemic hepatitis (shock liver) and chronic congestive liver injury. In recent years, basic research has accumulated, indicating the possibility of further interorgan communication between the heart and liver (heart-liver interaction). Hepatokine is a liver-derived hormone synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes. The liver secretes hepatokine to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism throughout the body, and its effects on the heart have recently been reported as a target organ of hepatokine. Selnoprotein P (SeP), a hepatokine, is rich in selenocysteine and has been reported to function as a transport protein for the trace element selenium.
Biography:
Soichiro Usui is an Associate Professor in Cardiovascular medicine in Kanazawa University, Japan. He is also Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology and the Japanese Circulation Society. He obtained his PhD in Medical Science from Kanazawa University, Japan. He held a postdoctoral position at the University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School, USA. He is interested in molecular mechanisms of cardiac remodeling in heart failure and adipose-derived regenerative cell research. He published over 90 refereed journal papers.