Embargoed for Release Until Monday, April 27, 1998 5PM (EST)
Rachel Champeau
([email protected])
(310) 206-1960
Chemical Associated with Tuberculosis Shows Promise in Reducing Damage From Heart Attacks
A chemical associated with tuberculosis may substantially reduce the amount of damage sustained from a heart attack, a finding that could lead to new treatment for heart attack victims, according to a new study.
The discovery, reported in the April 28 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, shows considerable promise for the treatment of reperfusion injury, which affects many heart attack victims. The additional damage to the heart from reperfusion injury frequently leads to congestive heart failure which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood. Victims of congestive heart failure lose their ability to perform ordinary physical activity and require frequent hospitalization. Currently, no treatment exists for reperfusion injury.
The finding was made by two physician brothers in different disciplines, infectious diseases and heart disease who happened to discuss their individual research projects at a family gathering. The two doctors decided to pursue a joint study and led research teams at the UCLA School of Medicine and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
The study demonstrated that a chemical made by the bacteria that causes tuberculosis -- called exochelins-- prevented reperfusion injury in animals.
Reperfusion injury occurs when toxic forms of oxygen are released after normal blood flow is restored to an area that previously was deprived of blood flow. Researchers found that when blood flow is restored after a heart attack, exochelins introduced into the area prevented reperfusion injury.
"It's ironic that a chemical that contributes to the survival of tuberculosis bacteria may also play a critical role in helping heart attack victims," said Dr. Marcus A. Horwitz, professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the UCLA School of Medicine. "The unique properties of exochelins may also render them useful for the treatment of other diseases involving blocked arteries such as stroke," he continued.
The UCLA team, currently working to develop a vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis, isolated and characterized the exochelins. The team at the University of Colorado studying reperfusion injury demonstrated the protective effect of exochelins in heart attacks.
An estimated 1.5 million Americans will suffer a heart attack this year -- and one-third will die according to the American Heart Association. New methods such as angioplasty and clot-bursting drugs are being utilized to rapidly reopen blocked arteries, greatly decreasing the number of heart attack deaths. However, reopening a blocked artery can lead to reperfusion injury.
"Previous animal research has shown that after a heart attack and treatment to reopen blocked coronary arteries, up to 60 percent of subsequent damage to the heart is caused by reperfusion injury. We believe that exochelins could dramatically improve recovery from heart attacks," said Dr. Lawrence D. Horwitz, professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
The three-year study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Other researchers involved with the study include Jovana Gobin of the UCLA School of Medicine; Nancy A. Sherman, Yinong Kong, Adrian W. Pike and Paul V. Fennessey of the University Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Note: For a complete copy of the research paper and/or an interview with Dr. Marcus Horwitz please call Rachel Champeau at (310) 206-1960. For an interview with Dr. Lawrence D. Horwitz, please contact Sarah Ellis at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at (303) 315-5571.
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