Mitochondrial Substrate Utilization in the Diabetic Human Heart

Diabetes can lead to heart failure independently, but the underlying causes remain incompletely understood. The main aim of this study is to identify differential regulation of mitochondrial substrate utilization and complex activity in heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). For this, we will conduct a prospective, observational study to examine myocardial mitochondrial oxidative function and related metabolic parameters, gene expression, histological markers, and inflammation in cardiac tissue from patients with heart failure or patients after heart transplantation. We will further assess cardiac function using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with and without stress protocols and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glycemic control/T2DM will be characterized by oral glucose tolerance tests. The results of this project will help to better understand the cellular mechanisms of the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and contribute to the development of early diagnostic, as well as therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Heart Failure; Mitochondrial Diseases; Insulin Resistance; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies; Type2diabetes

Detailed Description

Insulin resistance, ectopic lipid accumulation in the liver, and plasma concentrations of free fatty acids are independent predictors of cardiac mortality, the primary cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM predisposes to the development of heart failure independently of other risk factors. Ventricular dysfunction in diabetic patients independent of coronary artery disease or arterial hypertension is termed diabetic cardiomyopathy. Studies suggest that myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as accumulation of lipids and other metabolites, oxidative stress, and altered insulin signaling, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Thus, we also found evidence of impaired mitochondrial function in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in previous analyses. Nevertheless, it remains unclear, among other things, at which point of mitochondrial metabolism the shown impairments originate, whether the availability of different substrates may influence these effects, what is the temporal sequence of pathomechanistic events, and what are the effect modifiers for the influence of T2DM on the myocardium.

The goal of the present work is to more precisely characterize the underlying pathomechanisms to answer these questions. The focus will be on respirometric analysis of human myocardial tissue samples established by our preliminary work. In previously published studies, we were able to establish its use for the first time in catheter-guided endomyocardial biopsies. By studying further heart failure and heart transplant patients, we will analyze the importance of myocardial mitochondrial function as a prognostic marker of further disease progression and, using larger power, investigate the influence of different effect modifiers.

The results of this project will help to better understand the cellular mechanisms of the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and contribute to the development of early diagnostic, as well as therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Hypotheses:

1. the reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity of myocardial mitochondria in T2DM is complex- and substrate-specific.
2. within patients with heart failure of unclear etiology and indication for myocardial biopsy, there are mitochondrial profiles with different clinical courses and outcomes.
3. in T2DM, myocardial oxidative capacity is also longitudinally impaired in heart transplant patients and this impairment is associated with worse clinical outcome.

Objectives:

1. identify specific targets for therapeutic strategies against diabetic cardiomyopathy: work program (WP) 1.
2. characterization of myocardial mitochondrial function and its relevance to clinical phenotypes in heart failure: WP 2.
3. investigation of T2DM as a longitudinal predictor of worse mitochondrial and clinical cardiac function in heart transplant patients: WP 3.

WP1:

The aim is to identify altered respiratory chain subcomponents and metabolic pathways associated with the development of manifest diabetic cardiomyopathy in T2DM. For this purpose, patients with and without T2DM (according to the criteria of the "American Diabetes Association" (ADA)) who have an indication for endomyocardial biopsy on clinical grounds will be included. A matched comparison between patients with and without T2DM will provide evidence of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for diabetic cardiomyopathy in newly diagnosed heart failure (with and without left ventricular ejection fraction limitation).

Patients:

• Group 1: Patients with manifest heart failure (NYHA II-IV) with clinical indication to perform myocardial biopsy and T2DM according to the "American Diabetes Association" (ADA) criteria, HbA1c < 9.0%, with/without therapy (insulin, oral/parenteral antidiabetic drugs).
• Group 2: Patients with manifest heart failure (NYHA II-IV) with clinical indication to perform myocardial biopsy without T2DM.

WP2:

The aim is to characterize myocardial mitochondrial function and its relevance for clinical phenotypes in heart failure. For this purpose, patients with terminal heart failure from the heart failure program of the Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology of the University Hospital Düsseldorf who are scheduled for implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or are undergoing heart transplantation will be included.

All study examinations of myocardial tissue are performed in an area of the left ventricular apex obtained during surgery (LVAD implantation or cardiac harvest), which is not further clinically analyzed or preserved and which therefore no longer has any direct benefit for the patients.

Patients:

• Group 1: Patients with terminal heart failure and diagnosed T2DM according to the "American Diabetes Association" (ADA) criteria 18, HbA1c < 9.0%, with/without therapy (insulin, oral/parenteral antidiabetic drugs).
• Group 2: Patients with terminal heart failure (NYHA IV) without T2DM.

WP3:

The aim is to investigate T2DM as a longitudinal predictor of impaired mitochondrial and clinical cardiac function in heart transplant patients. For this purpose, patients who are included in the heart transplantation follow-up program of the University Hospital Düsseldorf and have the indication for endomyocardial biopsy within this program will be included. Routine myocardial biopsy is necessary in these patients to detect subclinical graft rejection early, as it is associated with increased mortality. Biopsies occur multiple times in the first year after transplantation, and in subsequent years (if there is no evidence of rejection), the goal is to monitor annually.

Patients:

• Group 1: Patients after heart transplantation with diagnosed T2DM according to the "American Diabetes Association" (ADA) criteria 18, HbA1c < 9.0%, with/without therapy (insulin, oral/parenteral antidiabetic drugs).
• Group 2: Patients after heart transplantation without T2DM.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Daniel Scheiber, MD; Phone Number: +492118118800; Email: daniel.scheiber@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Elric Zweck, MD; Phone Number: +49211811800; Email: Elric.Zweck@med.uni-duesseldorf.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Düsseldorf, Germany, 40225
    • Recruiting
    • University-Hospital Düsseldorf Division of Cardiology, Pulmonary Disease and Vascular Medicine
    • Contact: Clinical Trial Unit; Phone Number: +49211811800; Email: ctu@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
    • Contact: Lisa Dannenberg, MD; Email: lisa.dannenberg@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
    • Principal Investigator: Daniel Scheiber, MD
    • Sub-Investigator: Elric Zweck, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with heart failure with or without T2DM undergoing endomyocardial biopsy for clinical reasons (WP1), patients with terminal heart failure with or without T2DM undergoing left ventricular assist device surgery or heart transplantation (WP2), and patients after heart transplantation with and without T2DM undergoing endomyocardial biopsy for clinical reasons (post-transplant surveillance).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 20 and ≤ 85 years
• Male and female patients with manifest heart failure (NYHA II-IV) and clinical indication for myocardial biopsy or after transplantation and clinical indication for myocardial biopsy with or without type II diabetes mellitus or terminal (NYHA IV) heart failure with or without type II diabetes mellitus.
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute infectious diseases within the last 2 weeks before the examination
• Autoimmune diseases or acute immunocompromising diseases (leukocytes < 5000/μl)
• Pregnancy
• Use of alcohol or drugs (addiction), psychiatric diseases
• Suspected or manifest AIDS (HIV); hepatitis B or C.
• Liver disease not attributed to the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver hepatitis or congestive hepatopathy in heart failure
• Malignant cancer
• Lack of capacity to give informed consent or lack of consent to participate in the study
• For MRI study with drug stress: contraindications to the use of regadenoson, specifically: a) Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of the other ingredients mentioned. b) Second- or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block or sinus node dysfunction, unless these patients have a functioning pacemaker. c) Unstable angina that has not been stabilized with medication. d) Severe hypotension. e) Decompensated stages of heart failure.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
patients with manifest heart failure; patients with manifest heart failure and T2DM or patients with manifest heart failure without T2DM
patients with terminal heart failure; patients with terminal heart failure and T2DM or patients with terminal heart failure without T2DM
patients after heart transplantation; patients after heart transplantation and T2DM or patients after heart transplantation without T2DM

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Substrate-specific JVO2 of ventricular myocardial mitochondrial oxidative capacity	measured in (pmol/s*mg)	at time of the endomyocardial biopsy procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Markers of cardiac function and structure	measured by cardiac magnet resonance tomography	1 day before or after endomyocardial biopsy
Markers of cardiac function	measured by echocardiography	1 day before or after endomyocardial biopsy
Cardiac substrate utilization	measured by cardiac magnet resonance spectroscopy (MRS)	1 day before or after endomyocardial biopsy
Patterns in the myocardial transcriptome and systemic metabolome		at time of the endomyocardial biopsy procedure
non-fatal myocardial infarction	Survival and clinical outcomes after study index visit (inclusion)	up to 5 years (follow-up in clinical routine)
all-cause mortality	Survival and clinical outcomes after study index visit (inclusion)	up to 5 years (follow-up in clinical routine)
allograft rejection	Survival and clinical outcomes after study index visit (inclusion)	up to 5 years (follow-up in clinical routine)
hospitalization for heart failure	Survival and clinical outcomes after study index visit (inclusion)	up to 5 years (follow-up in clinical routine)
non-fatal stroke	Survival and clinical outcomes after study index visit (inclusion)	up to 5 years (follow-up in clinical routine)
Longitudinal Substrate-specific JVO2	measured with sequential biopsies	variable, up to 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
• Investigators: Study Chair: Malte Kelm, Prof., Clinic for Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology at University Hospital Düsseldorf; Principal Investigator: Daniel Scheiber, MD, Clinic for Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology at University Hospital Düsseldorf

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 14, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 25, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 14, 2023
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: heart failure; type 2 diabetes mellitus; insulin resistance; diabetic cardiomyopathy; mitochondrial disease; mitochondrial function; respirometry
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Hyperinsulinism; Heart Failure; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Mitochondrial Diseases; Insulin Resistance; Cardiomyopathies; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-1962

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No