Clinical analysis of serum carnosinase in cardiometabolic disease and evaluation of novel carnosine analogs for therapeutic potential

The main goals of this research project were to identify the association of carnosinase with heart failure, and to establish drug profiles for mitochondria-targeted carnosine analogs that can alleviate the damage that commonly occurs in cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes and heart diseases. High sugar and lipid conditions or diet and different disease states can lead to an increase in oxidative stress byproducts, such as reactive oxygen species or free radicals, which are harmful to the human body. The byproducts of oxidative stress are the culprits to DNA damage, inflammation, cancer, aging, and cell death. Carnosine is a dipeptide that occurs naturally in the human body. It can help in reducing oxidative stress by binding with the byproducts that are harmful so they will not cause detrimental effects to the body. However, the human body has carnosinase, which is an enzyme that breaks down carnosine and renders it unable to protect against oxidative stress. If we can synthesize a compound derived from carnosine that can avoid carnosinase and have it target the mitochondria, which is the place where most free radicals are generated, it will be very helpful especially in patients who have heart diseases and/or diabetes.

Our research on mitochondria-targeted carnosine analogs will pave roads and open paths for other researchers who are also considering developing carnosine analogs as therapeutic supplements for patients who have cardiometabolic disease or conditions such as high blood sugar or lipid levels. There is also great promise in the use of mitochondria-targeted L-carnosine analog as a supplement that is given before heart surgery to improve recovery, or a conjunctive therapy to reduce heart and liver injury in patients with diabetes or other diseases.