American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 10 2 2025 Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10: Clinical Correlates and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation. Suthahar N, Yap SC, de Vries AAF, Damman K, Fabritz L, Bakker SJL, Gansevoort RT, Kirchhof P, Rienstra M, de Boer RA
Background: Bone morphogenetic protein-10 (BMP10), a protein predominantly secreted by atrial cardiomyocytes, has emerged as a promising biomarker in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and as a marker of atrial stress in patients with heart failure. Its clinical correlates in community-dwelling adults and its association with incident AF remain unexplored. Methods and Results: BMP10 was measured in 5883 participants from the PREVEND community-based cohort (mean age 53.6 years; 51.5% females). The mean BMP10 concentration was 2.20±0.43 ng/ml. In multivariable linear regression analyses, the strongest positive correlates of BMP10 were female sex (standardized beta-[Sβ]: 0.34), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; Sβ: 0.16), total cholesterol (Sβ: 0.13) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; Sβ: 0.13). The strongest negative correlates were relative fat mass (Sβ: -0.21), C-reactive protein (CRP; Sβ: -0.16), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; Sβ: -0.13); P for all<0.001. BMP10 was not significantly associated with prevalent hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure. Over a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 154 participants (2.6%) developed incident AF, corresponding to 4.2 cases per 1000 person years. In a multivariable Cox-regression model, higher BMP10 levels were significantly associated with incident AF (Hazard ratio per 1SD increase: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.23-2.04). Conclusions: In community-dwelling adults, BMP10 levels are higher in women, positively associated with HDL-C and NT-proBNP, and inversely associated with fat mass, inflammation, and kidney function. Although not linked to prevalent cardiovascular disease, higher BMP10 levels are independently associated with incident AF.
