A new drug developed by a University of Alberta pharmacy research team and collaborators shows early promise in protecting heart cells from damage caused by reduced oxygen and subsequent reoxygenation during a cardiac event.
The drug is a synthetic compound that mimics the structure and function of a bioactive molecule derived from omega-3 fatty acids.
In a recent study, the team demonstrated that their synthetic molecule, SA-22, protects heart cells from injury through SIRT3, a protein found in mitochondria, the energy-producing “powerhouses” of cells.
“Our experimental drug is still at an early stage of development, but our findings show that it can help preserve healthy mitochondria, maintain energy production and limit the release of harmful molecules when heart cells are under stress,” says principal investigator Dr. John Seubert. “These early findings provide an important foundation for further development and testing to determine its potential as a future therapy for protecting the heart.”
Omega-3 fatty acids have long been associated with cardiovascular health, but the biological mechanisms underlying their protective effects are complex and remain incompletely understood.
Seubert’s group has focused on bioactive molecules derived from omega-3 fatty acids and the development of synthetic analogs that retain their beneficial properties.
In the latest mechanistic study, the researchers showed that the experimental compound protects heart cells during hypoxia and reoxygenation by preserving mitochondrial quality.
“Mitochondrial health is an important determinant of how heart cells respond following injury,” Seubert says. “Preserving mitochondrial function, supporting the generation of healthy mitochondria and efficiently removing damaged ones are critical processes that can influence the extent of cardiac injury and recovery.”
The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, with additional support from collaborator John R. Falck from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and The Welch Foundation. John Seubert is a professor and vice-dean in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. He also holds an adjunct associate professor appointment in the Department of Pharmacology and is a member of the Cardiovascular Research Institute.