University of Adelaide: Heart attack causes under the microscope

Two University of Adelaide research projects to help prevent heart disease have received $843,200 funding from the Heart Foundation.

A team led by Associate Professor Peter Psaltis, an Academic Cardiologist and Vascular Biologist at the Adelaide Medical School, has received $693,200 over four years to advance his research on how local stem cells cause arteries to harden – a process called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty plaques inside the body’s arteries. As the main cause of heart attack, it is the leading cause of death worldwide.

“We need to better understand how atherosclerosis occurs to improve the ways we treat it,” Associate Professor Psaltis said.

“An important but poorly understood aspect of atherosclerosis involves changes in the outer layer of the artery wall that involve inflammatory cells and tiny blood vessels that feed the growth of plaques.

“In a world-first, my group has discovered stem cells nestled in this outer layer that originate from early embryonic life. This project will study what happens to these stem cells in different stages of atherosclerosis and how they contribute to plaque development and its complications.

“The outcomes from this work could change the way we think about atherosclerosis and pave the way for new treatments to improve health for people with heart disease.”

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Christina Bursill – a Senior Research Fellow at the Adelaide Medical School – and her team has received $150,000 over two years to undertake targeted boosting of antioxidant defences in the fatty blockages of the heart.

“Our team discovered diroximel fumarate (DRF) reduces fatty plaque in the heart, highlighting its potential to prevent heart attacks,” Associate Professor Bursill said.

“To improve efficacy and reduce side effects, in collaboration with Professor Andrew Abell (University of Adelaide) we have now developed and patented a novel switchable fumarate that is activated only at sites of oxidative stress (like fatty plaque).

“We will advance our novel fumarate drug towards clinical translation for prevention of heart attacks.”

Fumarates boost antioxidant production that combats oxidative stress, a driver of fatty plaque growth in hearts that cause heart attacks.

Current therapies focus on lowering blood cholesterol, however many people suffer a second heart attack within a year of the first, highlighting the urgent need to develop non-cholesterol lowering drugs such as a novel fumarate.

“Australian researchers such as Peter and Christina are at the cutting edge of cardiovascular research, and we need them now more than ever. I look forward to seeing the impact these important studies have on the future cardiovascular health of Australians.”
Heart Foundation Research Manager, Dr Jacqueline Schmitt

Heart Foundation Research Manager, Dr Jacqueline Schmitt said: “The support for these innovative projects out of the University of Adelaide is made possible with thanks to our generous donors.

“Australian researchers such as Peter and Christina are at the cutting edge of cardiovascular research, and we need them now more than ever. Every day, more than 1,000 Australians are hospitalised with heart disease, and sadly, around 80 will die.

“I look forward to seeing the impact these important studies have on the future cardiovascular health of Australians.”