Project Summary:
Diabetes is a major public health issue in the U.S., affecting 38.4 million people (approximately 12% of the population), with an additional 3.4% of adults undiagnosed and 38% having prediabetes. Over 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes. A particularly serious complication of diabetes is diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a progressive and irreversible heart muscle defect that leads to cardiac dysfunction. It affects 16.9% of diabetic patients, with survival rates below 50% after 10 years. Diabetes also contributes to 14% of new heart failure cases. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms of DCM, particularly in humans, remain unclear, and currently, there are no effective treatments. Given the severity of DCM and its impact on heart failure rates, it is critical to accelerate research into its underlying mechanisms in human models and develop potential therapeutic interventions.
Wisconsin faces a significant public health challenge with diabetes, affecting 14% of adults and contributing to $5.5 billion in annual healthcare costs. Additionally, one in three adults (1.5 million residents) have prediabetes, which often progresses to type 2 diabetes if untreated. The prevalence of diabetes is rising, driven by obesity and inactivity, and is now the eighth leading cause of death in the state. This increase also raises the risk of complications like DCM and heart failure. Developing innovative treatments for diabetes complications like DCM is crucial for reducing the disease's impact, easing the strain on Wisconsin's healthcare system, and ultimately improving community health.
This project focuses on the Wisconsin population, particularly individuals affected by obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, and heart diseases.
Developing effective preventive and therapeutic interventions for these at-risk groups is essential to improving overall health outcomes in the state.
The research aims to transform the prevention and treatment of diabetes-induced heart injury. Using human iPSC-CM models, the project team seeks to uncover novel cardioprotective mechanisms that inform personalized strategies to prevent and mitigate DCM. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), they will clarify the molecular and mitochondrial mechanisms of NRG4-mediated cardioprotection, focusing on cell viability, contractility, and hypertrophy. Globally, 537 million people (10.5% of the population) live with diabetes, and 1.1% are affected by DCM. This research has the potential to reveal new preventive and therapeutic strategies for DCM, contributing to reduced heart failure rates and lower mortality from diabetes-related cardiac complications. By advancing treatment options and enhancing health equity, the researchers aim to deliver more effective, accessible care to vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by diabetes. By leveraging human iPSC-CM models, their findings are highly translatable to clinical applications, bringing us closer to developing effective treatments for diabetes-induced heart conditions.