A recent preclinical study has revealed that LXA4, a molecule known for its ability to calm the body’s inflammatory response, could offer a new treatment option for heart disease induced by diabetes. Published in Cardiovascular Diabetology, the study suggests that LXA4 may help reduce chronic inflammation, a key contributor to heart conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and heart failure in people with diabetes.
Diabetic heart disease has emerged as a major health concern, with heart-related complications being the leading cause of death among diabetics globally. Dr. Chengxue Helena Qin, Senior Author from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), highlighted that chronic inflammation accelerates damage to the heart in diabetic patients over time.
“Our findings show that LXA4 can reduce inflammation and scar tissue formation in the diabetic heart by up to 50% in preclinical animal models,” Dr. Qin explained. “With advancements in making LXA4 more ‘drug-like,’ these results suggest that therapies based on LXA4 could become a promising strategy for managing diabetic heart disease.”
Dr. Phillip Kantharidis, Senior Research Fellow at Monash’s Department of Diabetes, noted that current treatments for heart inflammation in diabetes are similar to those for other heart disease patients. However, this new research could pave the way for more targeted treatments specifically for diabetic heart disease.
Ting Fu, PhD candidate and first author of the study, described how LXA4 positively affects the immune response within the diabetic heart. “We observed that LXA4 stimulates reparative macrophages — a type of white blood cell — which helped reduce scar formation and improve heart function,” Fu said.
The next steps involve developing a stable drug formulation based on LXA4, with ongoing research exploring its broader potential in treating other inflammatory diseases and expanding treatment options for cardio-pulmonary conditions.
This collaborative study was conducted by MIPS, Monash University’s Department of Diabetes, and University College Dublin.
Related topics:
Early Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Linked to Increased Dementia Risk, Study Finds
National Diabetes Month: Raising Awareness and Promoting Healthy Living
New Study Rewrites Understanding of Obesity-Related Diabetes, Shifting Focus to Stress Hormones
