The role of inflammation in diabetic cardiomyopathy

ole of inflammation in diabetic cardiomyopathy Review (1401) Total Article Views Authors: Nunes S, Soares E, Pereira FC, Reis F Published Date July 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 59 - 73 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJICMR.S21679 Received: 04 May 2012 Accepted: 12 June 2012 Published: 24 July 2012 Sara Nunes, Edna Soares, Frederico Pereira, Flávio Reis Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease and represents a serious public health problem, with high rates of mortality and morbidity worldwide. T2DM etiology is complex and multifactorial and is associated with several complications, including those at myocardium level. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is viewed as a specific cardiomyopathy and defined as structural and functional changes in the myocardium due to metabolic and cellular abnormalities induced by diabetes. T2DM has long been classified as an inflammatory disease and recent studies have identified the importance of the inflammatory process in the development and progression of heart failure. In this review, the authors outline the main mechanisms underlying the potential contribution of the inflammatory process in the development and evolution of DCM. In addition, potential therapeutic strategies against inflammation of DCM are discussed.