Dear Colleagues,

Clinicians have long recognized the link between diabetes mellitus and heart disease. A significant number of diabetic patients exhibit diabetic cardiomyopathy; that is, left ventricular dysfunction independent of coronary artery disease or hypertension. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a complex disease with multifactorial pathogenesis that is essentially driven by dynamic structural, molecular, metabolic, and genetic/epigentic alterations. Moreover, complex crosstalk between diverse cell populations and cellular organelles within the myocardium as well as the interaction of the various defects have further complicated the search for the precise molecular mechanims underpinning the disease. Undeniably, over the past decade, our understanding of the pathological features of diabetic cardiomyopathy has increased, yet a unifying hypothesis of the various pathophysiological pathways and the route causes of the disease remains a pertinant question. Several current therapies can effectively treat hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. However, many have adverse cardiovascular effects, and none of them directly targets the cardiac manifestations of diabetes.

This research topic will explore the temporal onset of diabetic cardiomyopathy and focus on new insights and developments in cardiac diabetes research, novel experimental approaches, current challenges and the latest discoveries in therapeutic modalities, as well as recent advances and future perspectives in the field of diabetes-induced heart failure. The goal of this special issue is to inform and provide a thorough overview of diabetic cardiomyopathy research over the past decade. It should also shed light on the progress made so far, and highlight future challenges regarding the clinical impact of emerging treatments that improve cardiovascular outcomes.

A variety of article types are welcome, including Original Research, Communication, Commentary, (Mini)-Review, Systematic Review, and Editorial. Potential areas of interest in the field of diabetic cardiomyopathy include, but are not limited to:

• Pathophysiology, mechanisms, and treatments.
• Diagnostic approaches for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
• Molecular mechanisms and Signaling Pathways of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
• RNA-based mechanisms (non-coding RNAs - lncRNA, miRNA, CircRNAs; epitranscriptomics, etc.)
• Genetics, Epigenetics/Epigenomics regulation.
• Role of Pyroptosis and its regulation.
• Endothelial dysfunction.
• Impairment of mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Inflammation and immune response.
• Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis.
• Structural remodeling, cytoskeletal remodeling, ECM remodeling, metabolic remodeling.
• Hyperglycemic memory in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
• Role of hyperglycemia and sugar alternatives/nonnutritive sweeteners.
• The gut microbiota and diabetic cardiomyopathy.
• ER quality control and Mitochondrial quality control in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
• Current therapeutic approaches, Challenges facing current therapies.
• New therapies based on gene delivery, cell replacement, SGLT-2 inhibitors, etc.
• Alternative therapies: Novel bioactive compounds and peptides.
• Preclinical models of diabetic cardiomyopathy; Modelling Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
• Covid-19 and diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Prof. Djamel Lebeche Dr. Abdul Majid
Guest Editors