Heart failure drugs may work within days by boosting cells’ energy supply

Researchers have discovered that SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of drugs originally developed to treat diabetes and now widely used for heart failure, work by activating a key enzyme that helps heart cells produce and use energy more efficiently. The study, published today in Science, potentially solves a longstanding gap in knowledge about these drugs and opens the door to potential new treatments for heart failure. Heart failure drugs may work within days by boosting cells' energy supply.

Heart failure drugs may work within days by boosting cells' energy supply by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania edited by Robert Egan Robert Egan Senior Editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source The study, published today in Science, potentially solves a longstanding gap in knowledge about these drugs and opens the door to potential new treatments for heart failure. The study, led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, found that SGLT2 inhibitors directly activate an enzyme called PANK1 in heart cells.

This activation boosts production of coenzyme A (CoA), a molecule essential for converting nutrients into energy. Researchers found that increasing CoA production improved the ability of human heart cells to contract and relax, two critical functions that are impaired in heart failure. "Our findings suggest these drugs are helping the failing heart restore its energy-producing capacity," said senior author Zoltan Arany, MD, Ph.D., the Samuel Bellet Professor of Cardiology and chair of physiology at Penn Medicine.

"We identified PANK1 as a direct target of these medications and found that activating this pathway makes heart cells work better. This may explain many of the remarkable benefits patients experience with these drugs." Figuring out why it works For years, physicians have known that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths among heart failure patients but have struggled to explain exactly why because the drugs were designed to target the SGLT2 protein, which is found in the kidneys, not the heart.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for medical decisions and treatment options.