How the heart uses lactate for energy in heart failure
Mechanism and impact of direct mitochondrial lactate oxidation in heart failure
This project looks at whether hearts with heart failure use lactate directly inside mitochondria to make energy and how that affects heart function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252275 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work combines animal experiments and human heart tissue to see how the failing heart uses lactate to produce ATP. In mice, researchers remove the lactate transporter MCT1 in heart cells and use pressure-overload surgery plus 13C stable isotope tracing to follow lactate's path into mitochondria. Those MCT1-deficient animals developed worse heart enlargement and rapid heart failure, suggesting mitochondrial lactate use helps maintain heart function. The team also examined human heart samples and found more MCT1 in mitochondria from people with heart failure, supporting relevance to patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with heart failure—especially those undergoing surgery, biopsy, or transplant who can donate heart tissue—are the most directly relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without heart failure or those not eligible to provide heart tissue or participate in biospecimen programs are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new ways to boost energy production in failing hearts and point toward therapies that improve symptoms and outcomes for people with heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies indicate lactate is an important cardiac fuel, but direct mitochondrial lactate import via MCT1 and its impact on heart failure is a new and emerging finding.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ducker, Gregory S — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Ducker, Gregory S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.