NLRP3 and SASP in Vazkepa therapy in CVD patients with or without T2DM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Vazkepa mitigate the negative effects of metabolic memory in monocyte-derived macrophages isolated from patients with cardiovascular disease +/- type 2 diabetes? NLRP3 and SASP in Vazkepa therapy in CVD patients with or without T2DM.
IRAS ID
335916
Contact name
Claire Hills
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and its complications such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke represent the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Individuals with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) are at increased risk, particularly its complications. This damage develops because of increased inflammation, damage which also intensifies as we get older. In fact, it is now well recognised that inflammation is a greater predictor of poor cardiovascular health than dyslipidaemia. If we can reduce or treat this damage, we can enhance the quality of life and longevity for people with ASCVD or T2DM.
Vazkepa is a triglyceride lowering drug already prescribed to individuals with ASCVD and elevated blood lipids. In clinical trials, it has demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks and reduce the overall risk of death. However, these benefits are observed to extend beyond the drug’s lipid lowering effects; yet how this occurs is currently unknown and forms the basis of this study.
This study aims to determine the underlying mechanism of action of Vazkepa by studying blood from patients with ASCVD and T2DM. We will study pathways which we know contribute to a specific type of inflammation and are associated with poor cardiovascular health to determine whether Vazkepa can reduce or blunt these, which may explain the protective effects.
This proposal is from a group of clinicians and scientists at Lincoln, and aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action of Vazkepa based on promising clinical (bed-side) trial data and exciting preliminary laboratory (bench-side) studies. Whilst Vazkepa is already in licence and prescribed to individuals with ASCVD and/or diabetes, understanding the underlying mechanisms behind the significant beneficial effects will help us understand how to use them better and will additionally help develop new therapies to treat ASCVD and diabetes.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
24/ES/0006
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion