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Projects / Programmes source: ARIS

Bradykinin-mediated angioedema: Novel biomarkers and genetic predisposition

Research activity

Code Science Field Subfield
3.05.00  Medical sciences  Human reproduction   

Code Science Field
3.02  Medical and Health Sciences  Clinical medicine 
Keywords
Angioedema, bradykinin, biomarkers, genetic predisposition
Evaluation (rules)
source: COBISS
Researchers (15)
no. Code Name and surname Research area Role Period No. of publicationsNo. of publications
1.  25169  PhD Urška Bidovec Stojkovič  Microbiology and immunology  Researcher  2022 - 2023  106 
2.  53537  Ajda Demšar Luzar  Microbiology and immunology  Junior researcher  2020 - 2023  11 
3.  36808  PhD Aljaž Gaber  Biochemistry and molecular biology  Researcher  2022 - 2023  81 
4.  38369  Ines Hasanović  Microbiology and immunology  Technical associate  2020 - 2023 
5.  34101  PhD Ana Koren  Microbiology and immunology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  87 
6.  22807  PhD Peter Korošec  Microbiology and immunology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  712 
7.  10921  PhD Mitja Košnik  Microbiology and immunology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  1,561 
8.  37493  PhD Urša Kovač  Metabolic and hormonal disorders  Junior researcher  2020  25 
9.  03422  PhD Brigita Lenarčič  Biochemistry and molecular biology  Researcher  2020 - 2021  338 
10.  22459  PhD Tadeja Režen  Neurobiology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  235 
11.  29300  PhD Matija Rijavec  Microbiology and immunology  Head  2020 - 2023  281 
12.  06013  PhD Damjana Rozman  Biochemistry and molecular biology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  887 
13.  36479  PhD Julij Šelb  Oncology  Researcher  2020 - 2023  117 
14.  39238  Romana Vantur Setnikar  Microbiology and immunology  Junior researcher  2020 - 2021  16 
15.  25317  PhD Mihaela Zidarn  Public health (occupational safety)  Researcher  2020 - 2023  443 
Organisations (3)
no. Code Research organisation City Registration number No. of publicationsNo. of publications
1.  1613  University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases  Golnik  1190997  7,115 
2.  0103  University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology  Ljubljana  1626990  23,084 
3.  0381  University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine  Ljubljana  1627066  48,236 
Abstract
Angioedema (AE) is self-limiting and localized oedema of the subcutaneous and submucosal tissue, due to transiently increased vascular permeability in the deeper layers of the dermis and in the subcutaneous tissue. Clinically it is characterized by swelling of the face, lips, tongue, larynx, abdomen, genitalia or extremities. AE often occurs as part of urticaria, however, when recurrent angioedema develops without urticaria, the patient should be diagnosed as having isolated/primary AE. It is estimated that the prevalence of having at least one isolated angioedema attack during the entire lifetime is up to 10%. Around 70% of AE is mediated by mast-cell mediators, the key being histamine, the so called histamine-mediated AE (H-AE). The treatment of choice are antihistamines and corticosteroids. The rough remainder (30%) is caused by dysregulation of the bradykinin (Bk)-pathway, the so called Bk-AE, which represents the main focus point of the current project. Bk is a potent vasodilator and increases vascular permeability. Dysregulation of Bk metabolism results in different types of acquired and hereditary recurrent primary AE not responsive to antihistamines and corticosteroids. The treatment requires interventions that targets Bk pathways. Patients with AE are often misdiagnosed; the rate of misdiagnosis can be up to around 50% with the biggest diagnostic hurdle lying in discrimination between allergic (H-AE) and non-allergic (Bk-AE). This translates to delays in diagnosis which are long and common. However, if AE patients are untreated or not treated correctly, the attacks can be frequent, tremendously effecting the quality of life. Patients can be debilitated by symptoms for several weeks a year, what is also associated with huge economical burden. Furthermore, laryngeal oedema as the most worrisome presentation of AE if treated wrongly can cause death by asphyxiation. Since, different AE types, underlined by different causes, require different treatment regimens, the establishment of the correct diagnosis is therefore of utmost importance. As evidenced above, distinguishing Bk-AE from H-AE remains the most significant and frequent dilemma faced by the clinician during an evaluation of a patient with AE, further adding to the problem is a lack of any available diagnostic test to discriminate between the two types. The diagnosis is therefore often established by excluding alternative diagnoses, which is as previously mentioned associated with misdiagnosis and delay in diagnosis. The project itself will be composed of several inter-linked activities, divided into different, conceptually similar parts (work packages, WPs). It will range from recruitment of patients with comprehensive clinical evaluation, followed by an attempt to discover and validate clinically useful biochemical biomarkers to discriminate between Bk-AE and H-AE (WP1 and WP2). This will help us to identify patients who will benefit from Bk pathways targeting therapy. A large part of the project will be directed towards the identification of genetic causes/predisposition (WP3 and WP4) and disease-modifier genes (WP5) to Bk-AE employing different complementary strategies and methods, and basic functional characterization (WP6) of newly identified variants (in known HAE-related and newly discovered genes). The final goal of the project is the identification of the biomarkers and genetic predisposition (factors), including both genetic causes and disease-modifiers, for Bk-AE. This will in turn allow us to better understand the underlying mechanism and manage patients with AE.
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