PhD Defence Giorgia D’Italia

Keywords: Platelets, Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), Non-coding RNA, Inflammation 
 

"From Platelets to Long Non-Coding RNAs: Understanding Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction"

This thesis investigated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a common and increasingly prevalent form of heart failure, particularly among older adults and women. Despite its impact, the underlying causes of HFpEF remain poorly understood. The research focused on the role of blood components—such as platelets (cells involved in blood clotting), immune cells, and long non-coding RNAs—in the development and progression of HFpEF. The findings revealed that although patients with HFpEF showed signs of ongoing blood and immune system activation, their platelets functioned abnormally, which may contribute to disease progression. Furthermore, changes in platelet behavior were associated with worsening heart and kidney function over time. The thesis also explored the role of a specific RNA molecule in mice and found that its removal protected the heart from stress-related damage. These insights could help guide the development of new strategies to detect, monitor, or treat HFpEF. 

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