Cardiac Dysfunction In Diabetes: A Novel Therapeutic Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Diabetes is a global epidemic with high mortality associated with heart failure. I propose a new hypothesis: diabetic heart failure reflects a progressive decline in heart pump efficiency due to an accumulation of large glycogen stores in heart muscle cells. This research aims to characterise the underlying causes of heart failure in diabetes and identify intervention potential to rescue function and prevent the progression into failure.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common endocrine disease in the world and up to 60% of diabetic patients have heart disease. Heart disease is the most expensive heath condition and biggest cause of death in Australia. Diabetic patients often accumulate fat (triglyceride) within their heart cells, leading to diabetic heart disease. The present study sought to determine if diabetic patients with increased fat within their heart cells have more scarring which eventually results heart muscle dysfunction ....Type 2 diabetes is the most common endocrine disease in the world and up to 60% of diabetic patients have heart disease. Heart disease is the most expensive heath condition and biggest cause of death in Australia. Diabetic patients often accumulate fat (triglyceride) within their heart cells, leading to diabetic heart disease. The present study sought to determine if diabetic patients with increased fat within their heart cells have more scarring which eventually results heart muscle dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Curing Fatty Muscles: Understanding The Role Of PLIN5 In Lipid Metabolism And Tissue Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,162.00
Summary
Diseases associated with the deposition of lipids in muscle are becoming an increasingly important medical problem as the incidence of obesity increases. Skeletal muscle and cardiac function are greatly altered by excessive lipid deposition. The protein PLIN5 is important in regulating fat metabolism. This project aims to determine the functions of PLIN5, how PLIN5 is regulated and whether altering PLIN5 contributes to the development of diabetes and heart failure.
The Role Of The Cytoskeleton In Communication Between The L-type Ca2+ Channel And The Mitochondria In Cardiac Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,890.00
Summary
The L-type calcium channel is a protein in the membrane of heart muscle cells responsible for maintaining normal rhythm and contraction. We have shown that the channel can also regulate the function of the energy producing part of the cell (mitochondria). This occurs with the assistance of proteins that maintain cell architecture. We will test whether this association is altered in human disease where the cell architecture is disrupted to determine the mechanisms for poor energy supply.