Novel Discovery Finds the Hidden Culprit in Heart Failure

by Iswarya on January 11, 2019 at 10:31 AM

New study has identified a key molecule linked to dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious condition that accounts for one in five heart failure cases. The discovery can lead to new treatments tailored to patients with the condition. The findings of the study are published in the journal Nature Communications.

The team identified a key molecule named PI3K alpha that binds to gelsolin an enzyme that can destroy filaments that help make up the structure of the heart's cells and suppresses it.

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‘The molecule identified holds a great promise as a possible therapeutic target, offering a potential path forward to personalized and precision medicine for dilated cardiomyopathy patients.’
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The condition decreases the heart's ability to pump blood because its main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. Researchers studied the condition at the molecular level in animal models and in explanted human hearts and found that the pathway leading to dilated cardiomyopathy is common in all species. According to Oudit, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Heart Failure, the condition is caused by biomechanical stress, which activates the gelsolin enzyme.

"You need some gelsolin, but when it gets out of control, it destroys things. The molecule chews up the filaments, and you get really bad heart failure," said Oudit. "But we have also shown that when you suppress this molecule, you preserve your heart function. It's intact." Oudit said the potential impact on patient care is huge.

Congenital Heart Disease

Heart diseases that are present at birth are called " Congenital heart diseases".

"By understanding these patients better, we'll hopefully be able to develop specific therapies for them," he said.

According to Oudit, there are currently no specific treatments for patients with heart failure. The same medications are used for all patients.

"But if we can now identify patients that have problems with this type of remodeling (dilated cardiomyopathy), we can target them specifically," he explained. "That's where we're heading down the road. And to take this research right from the molecule to our patients, it's very rewarding."

Source: Eurekalert

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Coronary Heart Disease

In coronary heart disease, blood is unable to flow through blocked arteries. The main symptom is chest pain or angina. Treatment is with medications or surgery.

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Cyanotic heart disease is a group of congenital heart defects which occurs due to deoxygenated blood bypassing the lungs and entering the systemic circulation.