Physiological proteomics of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that is predominantly the result of coronary artery disease and hypertension. Despite advances in the treatment of myocardial infarction and HF, mortality has remained unchanged for several decades with approximately 50% of patients dying within five years of HF diagnosis. Recent statistics project a 46% increase in the incidence of HF by 2030, largely due to increases in the aging population and the prevalence of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. To develop diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and effective therapies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HF, it is crucial that we improve our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of this disease. Advances in proteomic techniques are providing a means to map disease-specific alterations in the expression, location, and post-translational modification of proteins at the level of whole tissues, primary cells, and the extracellular matrix. The objective of this review is to summarize the evolving proteomics techniques and discuss recent data that has successfully used proteomic analysis to reveal new biomarkers, map functional networks that may drive disease progression, and identify potential therapeutic targets for HF.