Dr. Smirnova receives AHA grant

Irina Smirnova, PhD, has just received a four-year Scientist Development Grant from the AHA National Program. This award is entitled “Can a drug replace exercise to improve the diabetic heart?” and covers the period from January 2004 to December 2007. Mehmet Bilgen, PhD, Hoglund Brain Imaging Center, Animal MRI Research, and Karen Kover, PhD, University of Missouri-Kansas City are Collaborating Investigators, and Lisa Stehno-Bittel, PhD, is a Consultant on the grant.

People with diabetes develop heart problems as the result of their illness. The major cause of death for persons with diabetes is heart failure. Current research data show that the diabetic heart malfunctions because its major component, heart muscle or myocardium, is replaced by fibrotic tissue (fibrosis). The heart becomes stiff and cannot pump blood efficiently to supply body needs. It is known that physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy heart even in people with diabetes. We showed that exercise training of diabetic rats improved the structure of heart muscle, reduced fibrosis and its relevant molecules. While exercise has many beneficial effects, not all diabetic patients can undertake aerobic exercise due to advanced renal, cardiovascular disease, blindness, or peripheral neuropathies. Thus we propose to determine whether the effect of physical training could be achieved by using a drug that inhibits a molecule responsible for increased fibrosis in the diabetic heart of experimental animals. Specifically, we will investigate whether cardiac structure and function will improve in diabetic rats treated with the drug. In addition, we will determine the effect of the drug on fibrosis regulating molecules changed in diabetes. This drug was shown to be efficient in treating diabetic eye, kidney and peripheral nerve disease in animals, while in diabetic patients it improved eye blood flow without any adverse events. This study will provide very important information regarding the usefulness of a drug in treating diabetic heart disease. This will be especially beneficial for diabetic patients unable to exercise.

Congratulations to Irina and all those working with her.

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