A new study has found the role of a protein called sclerostin in preventing heart-related diseases in people with type 2 diabetes.
This study was published in the Cardiovascular Diabetology journal. It was from the Biohealth Research Institute in Granada and led by Professor Manuel Muñoz Torres.
Sclerostin is known for its role in bone health, but this research has unveiled its significant benefits for vascular health, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes.
People with this condition often suffer from atherosclerosis, a buildup of substances like cholesterol in the arteries. This buildup leads to the formation of plaque, which narrows blood vessels and heightens the risk of severe heart diseases.
The research team studied 121 control individuals and 139 patients with type 2 diabetes, some of whom had cardiovascular disease.
Their findings were remarkable: patients with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease had notably higher levels of sclerostin.
This suggests a link between sclerostin and the prevention of atherosclerosis. Notably, sclerostin seems to help in reducing arterial calcification – a key factor in developing atherosclerosis.
The team conducted detailed experiments on cells mimicking the conditions found in patients with type 2 diabetes.
They discovered that increased sclerostin levels reduced calcium buildup in these cells, slowed down cell growth, decreased inflammation, and helped cells survive longer.
These findings have big implications. For instance, they raise questions about treatments that use anti-sclerostin antibodies in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Such treatments may
increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases since they block the activity of sclerostin. This underscores the necessity for careful prescription of these medications, especially for patients with a high risk of heart problems.
The authors have pointed out the clinical importance of their research. It could greatly influence how doctors treat patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the future.
This study not only provides a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between diabetes, bone health, and heart health but also opens the door for developing more effective and safer treatment strategies for these patients.
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The research findings can be found in Cardiovascular Diabetology.
