Publications

Abstract In type 2 diabetes (T2D), kidney fibrosis drives the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Lower urinary levels of collagen type III degradation (C3M), a biomarker of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, have been associated with CKD progression. We investigated the effect of combination therapy with renin-angiotensin system inhibition (RASi) and glucagon-like […]

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with atherosclerosis and formation of arterial plaques being a major underlying cause. Rupture or erosion of the plaque fibrous cap can result in thrombus formation, arterial occlusion, and a stroke or myocardial infarction. Plaque changes, and endothelial cell barrier leakiness, may result in material leakage, […]

Abstract Not all biomarkers are equal, and some should not be termed biomarkers. Despite an explosion in putative biomarker discoveries from high-throughput proteomic technologies, very few advance beyond initial excitement to become validated, clinically actionable tools. Most stall in a “biomarker valley of death,” where promising signals fail to meet robust technical, scientific, and regulatory […]

Abstract AIMS Kidney fibrosis, characterised by impaired extracellular matrix remodelling and excessive collagen deposition, is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease in diabetes. We investigated whether biomarkers reflecting collagen formation and degradation were associated with complications in type 1 diabetes. METHODS In this observational cohort study, markers of collagen type III (PRO-C3), VII (PRO-C7) and […]

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by fibrosis. Alport syndrome, a common monogenic form of CKD caused by collagen type IV variants, leads to basement membrane defects and progressive fibrosis. Understanding extracellular matrix dynamics is crucial for identifying disease-specific biomarkers and optimizing therapeutic timing. We applied a discovery approach combining stable C-lysine metabolic labeling […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Novel collagen-derived circulating peptides, such as endotrophin, have been proposed as biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine the effect of pirfenidone, an antifibrotic agent, on circulating levels of these peptides, and their association with cardiovascular magnetic resonance extracellular volume (ECV). METHODS In the PIROUETTE (Pirfenidone in Patients with Heart Failure […]

Abstract Endotrophin is a matrikine released from the C-terminus of the alpha-3 chain of type VI collagen, gaining increasing attention both as a biomarker and as a therapeutic target in the cardiometabolic space. So far, it has been quantified in circulation by the PRO-C6 assay, which detects different-sized proteolytic fragments of the C-terminus, including endotrophin. […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Tissue remodelling and extracellular matrix (ECM) changes are primary consequences of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), leading to an increased risk of developing heart failure and mortality. Collagen type I is the top constituent of the cardiac ECM and is rapidly degraded at sites of tissue injury occurring in STEMI. We aimed […]

Abstract Although interest in biomarkers of biological aging is growing, consensus on reliable, non-invasive indicators remains limited. Endotrophin, a bioactive fragment released during collagen type VI formation, reflects fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix remodeling and has been linked to chronic diseases, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation. Whether circulating endotrophin also captures aging-related phenotypes and mortality risk in […]

Abstract Endotrophin, a biologically active fragment derived from the α3 chain of collagen type VI, has emerged as both a risk biomarker and a potential pathogenic factor in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Over the past decade, research has shed light on its role in various noncommunicable diseases, emphasizing its signaling properties and diagnostic potential. Despite these […]