Protecting leg muscles and blood vessels from the damaging effects of diabetes

Targeting of protein kinase C beta II (PKCβII) to improve vascular and muscular fitness in diabetic peripheral ischaemia

Diabetes is a serious and common condition that occurs when there is too much sugar (glucose) in the blood because the body can’t use it or store it properly. Diabetes can damage the arteries and veins that supply blood to our legs. This causes irreversible injury to the muscles and sometimes amputation of the foot or lower leg is the only option. Better treatments are urgently needed. Professor Madeddu and his team are trying to find a way to help muscles and blood vessels protect themselves in people with diabetes. His approach centres around enzyme molecule, called PKCßII, which is involved in the damaging processes within diabetic tissues. He will examine whether a drug called Ruboxistaurin, which hampers PKCßII, could help leg muscles to grow new blood vessels. The research is at a pre-clinical stage and will involve mice and human tissue samples. If the results are positive, Ruboxistaurin could hold significant promise as a way to protect circulatory health in people with diabetes.