Advancements in Cardiac Metabolism

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cells of the Cardiovascular System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 August 2025 | Viewed by 71

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Centre for Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FQ, UK
Interests: hypoxia; cardiovascular disease; metabolism and diabetes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The heart is a metabolic omnivore, with the flexibility to shift metabolic fuel upon demand to enable constant function. Cardiac metabolism plays a crucial role in maintaining heart function and overall cardiovascular health. With cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death worldwide, it is vital to understand the dysregulation of cardiac metabolism and its implications in numerous cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Understanding the intricate metabolic pathways and their regulation in the heart is essential for developing novel therapeutic strategies to maintain efficient utilization of various energy substrates for continuous activity.

This Special Issue will explore the latest advancements in cardiac metabolic research, including the impact of metabolic remodelling on cardiac function; the role of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics in the heart; the interplay between systemic metabolic disorders and cardiac metabolism; and innovative therapeutic approaches targeting metabolic pathways to treat cardiovascular diseases. We invite contributions that provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cardiac metabolism, novel experimental models, and translational research aimed at improving cardiovascular health.

Dr. Michael Dodd
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • metabolism
  • fatty acids
  • heart failure
  • mitochondrial dysfunction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

31 pages, 3197 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Incubation of H9c2 Cardiomyocytes with Cannabigerol Attenuates Diacylglycerol Accumulation in Lipid Overload Conditions
by Sylwia Dziemitko, Adrian Chabowski and Ewa Harasim-Symbor
Cells 2025, 14(13), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14130998 (registering DOI) - 30 Jun 2025
Abstract
Fatty acids (FAs) play a crucial role in human physiology, including energy production and serving as signaling molecules. However, a dysregulation in their balance can lead to multiple disorders, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. These pathological conditions alter the balance between the [...] Read more.
Fatty acids (FAs) play a crucial role in human physiology, including energy production and serving as signaling molecules. However, a dysregulation in their balance can lead to multiple disorders, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. These pathological conditions alter the balance between the heart’s energetic substrates, promoting an increased reliance on FAs and decreased cardiac efficiency. A therapeutic application of a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid, cannabigerol (CBG), seems to be a promising target since it interacts with different receptors and ion channels, including cannabinoid receptors—CB1 and CB2, α2 adrenoceptor, or 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor. Therefore, in the current study, we evaluated a concentration-dependent effect of CBG (2.5 µM, 5 µM, and 10 µM) on H9c2 cardiomyocytes in lipid overload conditions. Gas–liquid chromatography and Western blotting techniques were used to determine the cellular lipid content and the level of selected proteins involved in FA metabolism, glucose transport, and the insulin signaling pathway. The glucose uptake assay was performed using a colorimetric method. Eighteen-hour CBG treatment in the highest concentration (10 µM) significantly diminished the accumulation of diacylglycerols (DAGs) and the saturation status of this lipid fraction. Moreover, the same concentration of CBG markedly decreased the level of FA transporters, namely fatty acid translocase (CD36) and plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm), in the presence of palmitate (PA) in the culture medium. The results of our experiment suggest that CBG can significantly modulate lipid storage and composition in cardiomyocytes, thereby protecting against lipid-induced cellular dysfunction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Cardiac Metabolism)
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