Heart disease kills 60% of people with type 2 diabetes worldwide, but University of Otago researchers are now a step closer to a possible treatment that could prevent premature death and improve overall health.
Physiology researcher and project leader Associate Prof Rajesh Katare said his team previously identified molecular regulators (microRNA) which play a major role in the development of heart disease.
They were able to modify them before they changed, to prevent the disease in diabetics.
"However, in reality and in clinic, we do not see patients before they develop any form of disease," he said.
"In fact, people don’t go to a GP or hospital unless there is a problem."
Using mouse models that react in a similar way to humans with type 2 diabetes, the group set out to treat heart disease.
"We identified that our treatment was able to restore the heart function by reducing the death of heart cells.
"This is an exciting result, as we are able to initiate the treatment after the development of the disease, but still improve the heart function.
"This result has given us the confidence that microRNA therapy can be used in clinic."
Prof Katare said the impact would be huge — particularly among the Maori community.
The simple nature of the treatment and the use of cell-free products, made it culturally safe to use.
It would improve the health of people with type 2 diabetes and reduce premature death, he said.
"This in turn will have a massive impact on the whole whanau."
He said the next stage of the project was to test if there would be similar improvements in larger animal models.
"If funded, this will take our research findings one more step closer towards translating into the clinic."
