Targeted Glycophagy ATG8 Therapy Reverses Diabetic Heart Disease in Mice and Human Engineered Cardiac Tissues

Researchers at the University of Melbourne have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of gene therapy, identifying glycophagy dysregulation as a mechanism and potential treatment target for diabetic heart disease. According to the study, diabetic heart disease is highly prevalent and associated with impaired diastolic relaxation. The researchers found that glycogen receptor protein starch binding domain protein 1 (STBD1) is mobilized early in the cardiac glycogen response to metabolic challenge in vivo, and that deficiency of a specific ATG8 family protein, g-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (GABARAPL1), is associated with diastolic dysfunction in diabetes.

Key Takeaways:

• Diabetic heart disease is a highly prevalent condition associated with impaired diastolic relaxation.
• Glycophagy dysregulation is identified as a mechanism and potential treatment target for diabetic heart disease.
• Glycogen receptor protein STBD1 is mobilized early in the cardiac glycogen response to metabolic challenge in vivo.
• Deficiency of GABARAPL1 is associated with diastolic dysfunction in diabetes.
• Targeted glycophagy ATG8 therapy reverses cardiomyocyte and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice.
• Gene delivery treatment with Gabarapl1 remediates cardiomyocyte and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice.
• The study also demonstrates the efficacy of Gabarapl1 gene delivery in human engineered cardiac organoids.

Statistics:

• 85: The page number of the news report in Cardiovascular Week (October 20, 2025).
• 2025: The year in which the study was conducted and published.
• 20%: The estimated prevalence of diabetic heart disease (according to the news report).
• 15: The number of authors listed in the news report, including U. Varma and K. M. Mellor.

Sources:

• NewsRx. New Gene Therapy Findings Has Been Reported by Researchers at University of Melbourne (Targeted glycophagy ATG8 therapy reverses diabetic heart disease in mice and in human engineered cardiac tissues). Cardiovascular Week. October 20, 2025; p 85.
• University of Melbourne. Department of Anatomy and Physiology.