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LXA4, which is known for its 鈥榗alming agent鈥� action in turning off the body鈥檚 inflammatory response and preventing chronic inflammation, could also serve as a potential new treatment for diabetes-induced heart disease, according to a new preclinical study, published in Cardiovascular Diabetology.

Heart conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks and heart failure are said to be the leading killers of people with diabetes, driving a growing global health crisis.

Senior author Dr Chengxue Helena Qin, from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), said chronic inflammation plays a key role in these heart problems, causing ongoing damage to the diabetic heart over time.

鈥淲e 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,鈥� Qin said.

鈥淲ith recent advancements in developing more 鈥榙rug-like鈥� LXA4, our findings point to the potential of LXA4-based therapies as a promising new way to manage diabetic heart disease.鈥�

Another co-author of the research, Senior Research Fellow at Monash鈥檚 Department of Diabetes Dr Phillip Kantharidis, said currently heart inflammation in diabetic patients is treated the same way as that of other heart disease patients.

鈥淭his 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,鈥� Kantharidis said.

The first author of the research, MIPS PhD candidate Ting Fu, said the team observed the beneficial effect of LXA4 on the immune system within the diabetic heart.

鈥淲e saw the molecule stimulate reparative macrophages 鈥� a type of white blood cell 鈥� within the diabetic heart,鈥� Fu said.

鈥淭hese good macrophages reduced scar formation (due to chronic inflammation) in the heart and also helped to improve the overall function.鈥�

As next steps, efforts to create a stable drug version based on the LXA4 molecule are in progress. The researchers are also investigating the broader applicability of this study to a range of other inflammatory diseases and exploring other drug options to address different aspects of cardio-pulmonary diseases.

The project was a collaborative effort between MIPS, the Department of Diabetes at Monash University鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and University College Dublin.

Image credit: iStock.com/Halfpoint

Originally published