Fat Molecule Holds Clues for Treating Diabetic Heart Disease

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Heart attacks and heart failure remain significant complications for people with diabetes, contributing to a growing health crisis. Researchers at Monash University have uncovered a promising new therapy targeting inflammation, a key driver of heart damage in diabetes patients.

A preclinical study published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology highlights the potential of lipoxin A4 (LXA4), a natural fat molecule, to reduce inflammation and improve heart function.

“We found that LXA4 could halve inflammation and scar formation, specifically in cases of heart disease induced by diabetes, as seen in the preclinical animal models,” said Qin Chengxue, a senior author and researcher at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Significance of the Research

She said the findings are significant because they suggest that new therapies could be made from the molecule to help people with diabetes and heart problems.

“With recent advancements in developing more ‘drug-like’ LXA4, our findings point to the potential of LXA4-based therapies as a promising new way to manage diabetic heart disease,” she added.

Treating Heart Inflammation in Diabetes

Heart inflammation in diabetic patients is currently treated in the same way as other heart disease patients, but this new research highlights the potential for more personalised treatments.

Co-author of the study, Phillip Kantharidis, emphasised the importance of this breakthrough.

“This study opens up the possibility of more targeted and effective treatment possibilities for diabetic heart disease patients when combined with their usual blood sugar management medication,” said Kantharidis, a Senior Research Fellow at Monash’s Department of Diabetes.

First author Ting Fu, said LXA4 was beneficial for promoting beneficial immune responses.

“These good macrophages reduced scar formation (due to chronic inflammation) in the heart and also helped to improve the overall function.”

Although the results showed the benefits of LXA4 in mice, its impact on human patients has yet to be seen.

The next step for LXA4 research is to develop a stable drug formulation, and whether these benefits can be helpful for diabetic patients.

Health Burden of Diabetes

In Australia, there are an estimated total of 1.5 million people living with diabetes, up 32 percent from a decade ago, according to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).

On a global scale, diabetes affects around 830 million people, accounting for over 10 percent of the world’s population, according to the WHO.

Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the body, leading to complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, high blood pressure, higher cholesterol, and other complications.

In Australia alone, diabetes treatment is a significant burden on the healthcare system, costing $3.4 billion per year.

New treatments, like those based on LXA4, offer hope for improving patient outcomes while alleviating the strain on the healthcare system worldwide.

The research involved collaboration between the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Department of Diabetes at Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and University College Dublin.