Final Report Summary - BP-CARDIO (Investigating the therapeutic potential of manipulating the IGF-IGFBP1 axis in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.)
The BPCarDiO project was developed to investigate aspects of the insulin-like growth factor system and Binding Proteins in Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Obesity. Impetus for the project followed recognition that the global increase in metabolic disorders such as obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes is predicted to have a major impact on cardiovascular disease. In BPCarDiO a group of basic and clinical scientists at the University of Leeds, UK, investigated the mechanisms by which the biological system comprising insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) affect metabolic and cardiovascular pathophysiology and whether this system can be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. We made key discoveries relating to how one of the IGFBPs, IGFBP1, favourably affects insulin signalling and vascular function at the molecular level. We demonstrated, in pre-clinical studies, that IGFBP1 protects against the metabolic consequences of diabetes, prevents atherosclerosis and improves recovery from blood vessel injury. Collectively, data generated through BPCarDiO provides the platform for ongoing work to translate the findings to benefit humans with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.