First therapy for diastolic heart failure?

MHH: New therapeutic approach to diastolic heart failure identified
Diastolic heart failure often remains undetected for a long time, but can have severe health consequences. Cause are pathological processes of remodeling the heart tissue, which could be prevented with a newly discovered therapeutic approach, the scientists of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) have successfully tested in a recent study in mice.

The scientists of the MHH have discovered in the mouse model claims to have a new approach for the treatment of diastolic heart failure. The heart function of the animals had improved markedly when a certain so-called "long-term noncoding RNA" (lncRNA) was inhibited. This opens up new treatment options for the treatment of diastolic heart failure, researchers say. The study's results were published in the journal "Circulation Research".

Cardiac insufficiency can lead to decreased exercise capacity, dyspnoea, arrhythmias and other health problems. MHH scientists have now discovered a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of diastolic heart failure. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

Shortness of breath, poor performance and cardiac arrhythmias
The research team headed by Professor Dr. Thomas Thum, head of the MHH Institute for Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, and lead author Maria-Teresa Piccoli examined in the current study, which causes the tissue changes that ultimately cause diastolic heart failure. For example, the symptoms are characterized by poor performance, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrhythmia, but also increase the risk of pulmonary edema. "In contrast to systolic heart failure, but the muscle power of the heart is normal," explain the experts.

Heart thickened and stiffened
The problem arises, according to the scientists in diastolic heart failure, "because the heart is thickened and too stiff, so it does not relax well and can not fill well." So far, the disease is not yet effectively treatable. Investigating the connective tissue cells, which thicken and stiffen (fibro- rate) the heart, researchers found that a particular lncRNA has a significant impact on the development of the disorder.

Special lncRNA crucial for tissue changes
The lncRNA are ribonucleic acids, which regulate the processes in the cells, explain the scientists. So far, however, the connections are still largely unknown. In the current study, it has now been shown that at the beginning of diastolic cardiac insufficiency in the connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) an lncRNA called Meg3 was increasingly produced. This lncRNA regulates the delivery of certain enzymes (metalloproteases) in the heart, which in turn are important for fibro- sization, says Professor Thomas Thum.

New therapeutic approach should be further investigated
When Meg3 was switched off in the mouse model, according to the researchers, less fibro- sization was found and the diastolic functions of the heart improved. This opens up a new therapeutic approach that should be "developed in the future so far that it can be used in patients," the researchers concluded. (Fp)