UZH Researchers Develop an Approach to Preventing Vascular Complications

(CONNECT) Researchers at UZH and the University of Pisa are exploring a way to prevent vascular complications associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. They target the fatty tissue surrounding the blood cells, according to a press release from UZH. In people with metabolic disorders, this perivascular fat often becomes pro-inflammatory, which over time leads to vascular disease.

The researchers have identified chemical markers that determine how the genome is read in each cell as the cause of this disorder. The researchers used specific epigenetic drugs—known as BET protein inhibitors—to correct the disorder: With their help, gene activity was reprogrammed. “Instead of targeting just one molecule at a time late in the course of the disease, we wanted to reprogram the entire gene activity profile of adipose tissue,” UZH cardiologist and study leader Francesco Paneni is quoted as saying in the press release.

In addition, the researchers were able to identify hexokinase 2—an enzyme involved in glucose metabolism—as a key factor in triggering vascular complications. “If enzyme activity is reduced—either indirectly through changes in epigenetic regulation or directly at the enzyme itself—the inflammatory response in adipose tissue decreases and vascular reactions return to normal,” explains Paneni. According to the researchers, epigenetic drugs could complement existing therapies by reducing the risk of vascular dysfunction, which can potentially lead to a heart attack or stroke. ce/hs