Nitroxyl represents a promising therapeutic intervention for cardiovascular emergencies in type 2 diabetes
Monash University researchers led a study that has, for the first time, shown the chemical compound 'nitroxyl' may represent an effective and rapid intervention for cardiovascular emergencies in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Nitroxyl has recently been recognised as a potential pharmacological agent for the broader treatment of heart failure, however, this was the first time that it has shown to be a potential intervention for cardiovascular emergencies in T2DM.
The team of researchers set out to determine if a) T2DM promotes nitric oxide resistance in the heart and vascular system and b) whether tissue responsiveness to nitroxyl is subsequently affected.
In preclinical animal models, the team has shown and published the first report that T2DM does in fact induce nitric oxide resistance in the coronary and mesenteric arteries, which is in turn overcome by nitroxyl donor, Angeli's salt.
This is significant due to the prevalence of T2DM, a rapidly growing epidemic affecting over 463 million people worldwide, with this number predicted to increase to 700 million by the year 2045.
Leader of the Drug Discovery Biology Theme in MIPS and study senior author, Professor Rebecca Ritchie, said the findings are a very exciting development for the team in their ongoing quest to identify new therapeutic strategies to prevent, delay or arrest the progression of cardiovascular diseases.
“Our research at MIPS is centred around the identification of new treatment strategies for arresting the progression of heart failure, particularly in the context of diabetes, so this is a very exciting study for the team and the wider cardiovascular research community,” said Professor Ritchie.
