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ORIGINAL ARTICLE doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01074.x Impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 on endothelial function Å. Sjöholm Department of Clinical Science and Education, Division of Internal Medicine, Unit for Diabetes Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in individuals with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes often have a variety of factors such as hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity, which increase their risks of endothelial dysfunction and CV disease. The incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), induce the glucose-dependent secretion of insulin, improve beta-cell function and induce slowing of gastric emptying and feelings of satiety – which result in reduced food intake and weight loss. Therapeutic treatments targeting the incretin system, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, offer the potential to address beta-cell dysfunction (one the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of type 2 diabetes), as well as the resulting hyperglycaemia. Initial evidence now suggests that incretins could have beneficial effects on endothelial function and the CV system through both indirect effects on the reduction of hyperglycaemia and direct effects mediated through GLP-1 receptor–dependent and –independent mechanisms. If these initial findings are confirmed in larger clinical trials, GLP-1 receptor antagonists could help to address the major CV risks faced by patients with diabetes. Keywords: cardiovascular, endothelial, glucagon-like peptide-1, incretin, type 2 diabetes The Pathophysiology and Consequences of Vascular Complications in Diabetes Individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at significantly greater risk of cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular disease, and vascular-related mortality, than age-matched individuals without diabetes. Because of the multisystem complications of atherosclerosis, which primarily affects the coronary arteries, lower limb vasculature and extracranial carotid arteries, the overall mortality rate among individuals with diabetes is approximately double that of non-diabetic people of the same age [1]. Diabetes is associated with a two- to fourfold increased risk of CV death and stroke [1], and a followup study to the World Health Organization Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes, including data from 4713 subjects, found CV disease to be the most common underlying cause of mortality in adults with diabetes, accounting for 44 and 52% of deaths in individuals with type 1 and type 2 disease respectively [2]. When vascular disease was excluded as a cause of death in a cohort of subjects with diabetes in Edinburgh, only 2% of deaths could be attributed directly to diabetes, in contrast to the >66% of individuals with diabetes whose deaths were attributed to vascular disease [3]. While chronic hyperglycaemia is a core risk factor for CV disease, individuals with diabetes frequently have additional risk factors including obesity associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Three relevant factors that predispose arteries to atherosclerosis in individuals with diabetes are chronic hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance [4]. Chronic Correspondence: Åke Sjöholm, MD, PhD, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Division of Internal Medicine, Unit for Diabetes Research, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected] Conflicts of interest: Professor Sjöholm has received research grants, speaker fees and consultancy honoraria for expert testimony from GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Novartis, sanofi-aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Servier, Sankyo, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Cynchron AB, Rheoscience, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Selena Fournier, Roche Diagnostics, Astra-Zeneca, Bayer, and Pharmacia. He is also on national and global advisory boards for Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Merck Sharp & Dohme. # 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11 (Suppl. 3), 2009, 19–25 j 19 OA j Impact of GLP-1 on endothelial function hyperglycaemia differentially impairs cells that are unable to reduce their internal glucose concentrations sufficiently in the face of hyperglycaemia, a deficit accounted for through four main mechanisms: increased use of the polyol pathway, increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), activation of the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) and increased utilization of the hexosamine pathway [5]. Within the polyol pathway, intracellular hyperglycaemia causes the enzyme aldose reductase to reduce glucose to sorbitol, consuming cofactor NADPH in the process. As NADPH is essential for regenerating the intracellular antioxidant reduced glutathione, reduced amounts of NADPH increase cellular vulnerability to oxidative stress. Increased synthesis of AGEs damages cells by modifying intracellular proteins, alters signalling between the extracellular matrix and the cell itself and modifies proteins circulating in the blood. These combined actions result in production of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Activation of PKC has wide-ranging consequences, including increased vascular permeability, capillary occlusion and increased proinflammatory gene expression [5] (figure 1). Lastly, increased flow through the hexosamine pathway results in alteration in gene expression that favours pathological changes that damage the vasculature. The Incretin Hormone Glucagon-like Peptide-1 and Its Effects on Hyperglycaemia The incretin hormones, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), are secreted from the gastrointestinal tract within minutes of food intake, through a combination of endocrine and neural mechanisms, causing the glucosedependent secretion of insulin as well as numerous other A. Sjöholm metabolic effects that reduce hyperglycaemia and induce satiety [6–21] (table 1). In healthy individuals, up to 75% of postprandial insulin release may be attributable to incretin hormones such as GLP-1, confirming their central role in glucose homoeostasis [22]. Through its ability to lower hyperglycaemia, GLP-1 is likely to have indirect beneficial effects on endothelial cell function through a reduction in the utilization of the polyol pathway in PKC activation and in AGE formation (figure 1). Direct Effects of GLP-1 on the CV System In addition to improving CV function through reduced hyperglycaemia, food intake and weight loss, GLP-1 also has direct effects on the CV system. Native GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor antagonists appear to exert a protective effect on the myocardium, improve endothelial function, reduce the expression of biomarkers associated with CV risk and decrease blood pressure through improvements in diuresis and natriuresis. Effects of GLP-1 on the Myocardium GLP-1 is known to induce antiapoptotic signalling pathways through phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) and mitogen-activated protein kinases. As these kinases are known to afford protection against myocardial injury, it would suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists could have direct protective effects on myocardial cells. One study that supports this hypothesis demonstrated that native GLP-1 protected against heart ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats [23]. The study suggested GLP-1induced myocardial protection was mediated through the GLP-1 receptor pathway (utilizing a cyclic AMP Fig. 1 Hyperglycaemia has wide-ranging damaging consequences for vascular integrity and blood flow. Adapted and reprinted with permission from Brownlee [5]. AGEs, advanced glycation end products; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; ET-1, endothelin-1; NF-kB, nuclear factor kB; PAI-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor; PKC, protein kinase C; ROS, reactive oxygen species; TGF-b, transforming growth factor-b; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor. 20 j Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11 (Suppl. 3), 2009, 19–25 # 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd A. Sjöholm Impact of GLP-1 on endothelial function j OA Table 1 Metabolic effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 Effects on glucose metabolism Glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion Restoration of the biphasic insulin response Enhanced incretin effect Glucose-dependent suppression of glucagon secretion Effects on appetite and satiety Slowed gastric emptying Appetite suppression Weight loss Effects on beta cells Increased pancreatic beta-cell mass Sample supporting references [7–9] [10,11] [12,13] [14,15] [15,16] [15,17–19] [16,18] [20,21] (cAMP)-dependent signalling mechanism) and involved the antiapoptotic signalling through PI3 kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases [23]. The protective effect on myocardial cells following the addition of exogenous GLP-1 required co-administration of a dipeptidylpeptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor; however, administration of a DPP-4 inhibitor alone demonstrated no protective effect on myocardial cells. These data suggest that the myocardial protective effect of GLP-1 may require the supraphysiological concentrations provided by GLP-1 analogues/mimetics rather than the physiological levels provided by treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors; however, this would need to be confirmed in further studies. Liraglutide has also demonstrated a beneficial effect on myocardial infarction in a mouse model [24], which was associated with increased cardioprotective gene expression, reduced infarct size and cardiac rupture and improved survival vs. the placebo group (80 vs. 40% survival, p ¼ 0.0001; figure 2) [25]. Again, GLP-1 induced prosurvival kinases, in this case Akt (also known as protein kinase B) and glycogen synthase kinase 3b, and in addition significantly downregulated the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the infarct area (p ¼ 0.04). In addition to animal studies, there has been one study of GLP-1 in 10 patients following successful primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Native GLP-1 administered intravenously for 72 h after successful angioplasty improved left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion compared with 11 controls [26]. In-hospital mortality was 27% (3/11) in the control group and 10% (1/10) in the GLP-1-treated group, and hospital length of stay was significantly reduced with GLP-1 (6.1 vs. 9.8 days, p < 0.02). The authors felt that GLP-1 demonstrated significant benefits in postmyocardial infarction and severe left ventricular dysfunction, which warranted further study. In addi- # 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Fig. 2 Liraglutide is associated with improved survival and cardiac output in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. Adapted from Noyan-Ashraf et al. [25]. ns, not significant; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; sham, myocardial infarction not induced; **p ¼ 0.0001. tion, they felt that it would be interesting to look at longer administration of GLP-1 following angioplasty for myocardial infarction to see if additional clinical benefits could be conferred. Effects of GLP-1 on Endothelial Function and CV Risk Biomarkers Individuals with type 2 diabetes generally show signs of endothelial dysfunction; however, whether this is a specific association or related to other co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or insulin resistance has been the subject of debate. There is evidence, however, of specific impairment of endothelial-dependent vasodilation in type 2 diabetes that was independent of obesity, suggesting the possibility of a specific association [27]. GLP-1 receptor antagonists may have beneficial effects on endothelial function. Native GLP-1 improved endothelial-dependent vasodilation in patients with type 2 diabetes but not in healthy subjects [28]. In addition, GLP-1 enhanced acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in healthy, non-diabetic, normotensive non-smokers [29]. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11 (Suppl. 3), 2009, 19–25 j 21 OA j Impact of GLP-1 on endothelial function Interestingly, this beneficial effect on vasodilation was abrogated by the sulphonylurea glibenclamide but not by glimepiride. Further work is required on the clinical benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists on endothelial function and the potential impact of combination therapy with sulphonylureas on this function. In addition, to measuring blood flow and vascular reactivity to assess endothelial dysfunction, certain markers, such as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), are also associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased CV risk. In an in vitro human model, liraglutide inhibited the expression of hyperglycaemia-induced PAI-1 and VCAM-1 expression, suggesting the possibility of a beneficial effect of liraglutide on endothelial dysfunction [30]. Similar data were reported by Courrèges et al. [31], who examined the effect of liraglutide on CV risk biomarkers as an exploratory end-point in a trial by Vilsbøll et al. [32] in patients treated with various doses of liraglutide compared with placebo. Liraglutide (1.90 mg/day) improved PAI-1 (25%, p < 0.05), B-type natriuretic peptide (38%, p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (20%, p ¼ not significant) and triglycerides (22%, p ¼ 0.01). In addition, a separate study demonstrated that the GLP-1 mimetic, exenatide, significantly reduced triglycerides by 26% (p ¼ 0.01) and C-reactive protein by 34% (p ¼ 0.05) [33]. These data suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists have the potential to benefit endothelial function and CV risk. Effects of GLP-1 on Systolic Blood Pressure Vascular complications cause the majority of deaths and complications in individuals with diabetes. Studies have demonstrated that raised blood pressure increases patients’ risk for CV events and mortality, and treatments that reduce blood pressure can reduce these risks [34–36]. For example, a reduction of 5.6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 2.2 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure has been shown to result in an 18% reduction in deaths from CV disease [36]. Liraglutide treatment in the six Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes trials resulted in reductions in systolic blood pressure of between 2.50 and 6.58 mmHg, suggesting that GLP-1 receptor agonists have clinically relevant effects on blood pressure in individuals with diabetes [37–42] (table 2). Proposed Dual Pathway of GLP-1 Action on the CV System Two recent studies in animal models have suggested a role for the GLP-1 metabolite GLP-1 (9–36) in mediating CV 22 j Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11 (Suppl. 3), 2009, 19–25 A. Sjöholm effects independent of the GLP-1 receptor [43,44]. GLP-1 (9–36) is produced following the cleavage of GLP-1 by DPP-4. These metabolites are unable to activate the GLP-1 receptor and have no insulinotrophic activity. In the Ban et al. study, the effects of GLP-1 and its metabolite [GLP-1 (9–36)] were investigated in wild-type and GLP-1 receptor knockout mice [43]. The authors demonstrated GLP-1 receptor expression in cardiomyocytes, endocardium, microvascular endothelium and coronary smooth muscle cells but not in cardiac fibroblasts. In wild-type mice, GLP-1, acting through the GLP-1 receptor, had an inotropic action on heart muscle by inducing a increase in left ventricular diastolic pressure, induced glucose uptake, increased functional recovery and cardiomyocyte viability after ischaemia/reperfusion injury and had a mild vasodilatory function. In contrast, while the GLP-1 metabolite, GLP-1 (9–36), did not appear to have an inotrophic action, it did act through a GLP-1 receptor– independent but nitric oxide/cyclic GMP–dependent pathway to induce modest glucose uptake and had a positive effect on postischaemic recovery of cardiac function and vasodilation. A second study in a rat model of ischaemia/reperfusion injury also suggested that GLP-1 receptor may have a dual action through a GLP-1 receptor–dependent and –independent pathway [44]. Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, showed a significant effect on reducing infarct size (33.2 vs. 14.5%, p < 0.05), and this beneficial effect was abolished by a GLP-1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, GLP-1 (9–36) had no effect of infarct size but did have an inotropic action on heart muscle as did extendin-4 [44]. Although further work is required to identify the receptor for GLP-1 (9–36) in cardiac tissue, these studies provide an interesting initial insight into a potential dual mechanism of action for GLP-1 that may make it a potentially useful preconditioning and/or postconditioning agent in clinical setting such as acute myocardial infarction treatment or coronary bypass grafting. Conclusions In vitro studies, animal models and clinical studies suggest that native GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide and exenatide have beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction and cardiac function and can reduce systolic BP. In addition, GLP-1 metabolites such as GLP-1 (9–36) have demonstrated GLP-1 receptor– independent effects on CV function. It will be of great interest to observe whether these promising data will translate into a proven CV benefit for GLP-1 receptor antagonists. # 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd A. Sjöholm Impact of GLP-1 on endothelial function j OA Table 2 SBP reductions associated with liraglutide treatment Liraglutide Comparator Reduction in SBP (mmHg) Study Dose (mg) LEAD-1 [37], all subjects received glimepiride 1.8 LEAD-2 [38], all subjects received metformin LEAD-5 [41], all subjects received metformin and glimepiride 1.2 1.8 1.8 1.2*** 1.8**** 1.8 2.56 2.81 2.81* 2.29* 3.64** 6.71 5.65 3.97*** LEAD-6 [42], all subjects received metformin and/or a sulphonylurea 1.8 2.51 LEAD-3 [39] LEAD-4 [40], all subjects received metformin and rosiglitazone Dose Reduction in SBP (mmHg) Rosiglitazone (4 mg) 0.93 Glimepiride (4 mg) þ0.41 Glimepiride (4 mg) Placebo 0.69 1.11 Insulin glargine [titrated to achieve 5.5 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) FPG target] Exenatide (10 mg twice daily) þ0.54 2.00 FPG, fasting plasma glucose; LEAD, Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes ; SBP, systolic blood pressure. p values for liraglutide vs. comparators: *p < 0.05, **p ¼ 0.0117, ***p < 0.0001, ****p ¼ 0.0009. Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the effort, intellectual input and creative stimulation by my associates at the KISÖS Unit for Diabetes Research, in particular Drs Thomas Nyström, Qimin Zhang, David Nathanson, Özlem Erdogdu, Hanna Dahlin, Ulrika Löfström, Carin Cabrera, Caroline Simberg, Marie Guldstrand, Björn Rathsman and Anna Kernell. Financial support for our own work cited herein was provided through the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research between Stockholm county council and the Karolinska Institutet and also financially supported by Stiftelsen Olle Engkvist Byggmästare, an unrestricted medical school grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme, a European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes/Servier research grant, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Karolinska Institutet, the Janne Elgqvist Family Foundation, the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Sigurd and Elsa Golje Memorial Foundation, Svenska Försäkringsföreningen, Svenska Diabetesstiftelsen, Åke Wiberg’s Foundation, Trygg-Hansás Research Foundation and Tore Nilson’s Foundation for Medical Research and is gratefully acknowledged. Novo Nordisk A/S provided financial support for this publication. 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