title: Integrative bioinformatics analysis of proteins associated with the cardiorenal syndrome.
abstract: The cardiorenal syndrome refers to the coexistence of kidney and cardiovascular disease, where cardiovascular events are the most common cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Both, cardiovascular as well as kidney diseases have been extensively analyzed on a molecular level, resulting in molecular features and associated processes indicating a cross-talk of the two disease etiologies on a pathophysiological level. In order to gain a comprehensive picture of molecular factors contributing to the bidirectional interplay between kidney and cardiovascular system, we mined the scientific literature for molecular features reported as associated with the cardiorenal syndrome, resulting in 280 unique genes/proteins. These features were then analyzed on the level of molecular processes and pathways utilizing various types of protein interaction networks. Next to well established molecular features associated with the renin-angiotensin system numerous proteins involved in signal transduction and cell communication were found, involving specific molecular functions covering receptor binding with natriuretic peptide receptor and ligands as well known example. An integrated analysis of identified features pinpointed a protein interaction network involving mediators of hemodynamic change and an accumulation of features associated with the endothelin and VEGF signaling pathway. Some of these features may function as novel therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Emergentec Biodevelopment GmbH, Gersthofer Strasse 29-31, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Irmgard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mühlberger
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moenks
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernthaler
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jandrasits
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oberbauer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perco