Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. The alteration in the signaling mechanism in diabetes leading to cardiomyopathy remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of tauopathy in myocardial dysfunction observed in T2DM. In that regard, diabetic Sprague Dawley rats were treated with intraperitoneal injections of lithium chloride (LiCl), inhibiting tau phosphorylation. Cardiac function was evaluated, and molecular markers of myocardial fibrosis and the TGF-β signaling were analyzed. T2DM rats exhibited a decline in ejection fraction and fractional shortening that revealed cardiac function abnormalities and increased myocardial fibrosis. These changes were associated with tau hyperphosphorylation. Treating diabetic rats with LiCl attenuated cardiac fibrosis and improved myocardial function. Inhibition of GSK-3β leads to the suppression of tau phosphorylation, which is associated with a decrease in TGF-β expression and regulation of the pro-inflammatory markers, suggesting that tau hyperphosphorylation is parallelly associated with fibrosis and inflammation in the diabetic heart. Our findings provide evidence of a possible role of tau hyperphosphorylation in the pathogenesis of DCM through the activation of TGF-β and by inducing inflammation. Targeting the inhibition of tau phosphorylation may offer novel therapeutic approaches to reduce DCM burden in T2DM patients.
Objectives: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has generated a global pandemic with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Cardiovascular complications are frequently observed in individuals with COVID-19, particularly those with preexisting cardiovascular risk factors or diseases. Cardiac biomarkers, including troponin, natriuretic peptides, and inflammatory markers, play a vital role in risk stratification, diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. These biomarkers provide valuable insights into cardiac injury, myocardial stress, inflammation, and the prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This review aims to provide better understanding of how Cardiac biomarkers correlate to clinical manifestation of COVID-19.Methods: We retrieved studies from PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholars that included results on cardiac biomarkers in COVID-19. Total of 14 studies were reviewed.Results: 8 studies showed evidence of poor progression of the disease when there is increased troponin. 6 studies out of the 14 mentioned in this review showed positive correlation between mortality and elevation in cardiac biomarkers. This shows the significance of cardiac biomarkers in predicting the mortality in patients with COVID-19.Conclusion: It was shown that elevated cardiac biomarkers were associated significantly to poor outcome of covid-19 infection. The outcomes that were linked to increased cardiac biomarkers included increased length of hospitalization, need of life sustaining treatment, myocarditis, invasive and non-invasive respiratory support, and even death were linked to elevated cardiac biomarkers levels.