Empagliflozin decreases ageing-associated arterial stiffening and vascular fibrosis under normoglycemic conditions

Unravelling the impact of active and passive contributors to arterial stiffness in male mice and their role in vascular aging

Arterial stiffness, a key indicator of vascular health, encompassing active (vascular tone) and passive (extracellular matrix) components. This study aims to address how these different components affect arterial stiffness along the aorta and the influence of aging. Aortic segments of 12 week and 24 month old (both n = 6) male C57BL/6J mice were mounted in a Rodent Oscillatory Set-up to study Arterial Compliance, in order to measure arterial stiffness and vascular reactivity. Regional variations in arterial stiffness were evident, with abdominal infrarenal aorta (AIA) exhibiting highest stiffness and smallest diameters. AIA displayed both the highest amount of collagen and collagen:elastin ratio. Regional ex vivo vascular reactivity revealed heightened AIA contractions and lowered NO availability. Aging is a significant factor contributing towards vessel remodelling and arterial stiffness. Aging increased arterial stiffness, aortic diameters, collagen content, and reduced VSMC contraction. The results of this study could identify specific regions or mechanisms to target in the development of innovative therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing overall vascular health.

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin inhibits skeletal muscle fibrosis in naturally aging male mice through the AMPKα/MMP9/TGF-β1/Smad pathway

ABSTACT

With advancing age, the incidence of sarcopenia increases, eventually leading to a cascade of adverse events. However, there is currently a lack of effective pharmacological treatment for sarcopenia. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin demonstrates anti-fibrotic capabilities in various organs. This study aims to determine whether empagliflozin can improve skeletal muscle fibrosis induced by sarcopenia in naturally aging mice. A natural aging model was established by feeding male mice from 13 months of age to 19 months of age. A fibrosis model was created by stimulating skeletal muscle fibroblasts with TGF-β1. The Forelimb grip strength test assessed skeletal muscle function, and expression levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, and α-SMA were analyzed by western blot, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, levels of AMPKα/MMP9/TGFβ1/Smad signaling pathways were examined. In naturally aging mice, skeletal muscle function declines, expression of muscle fibrosis markers increases, AMPKα expression is downregulated, and MMP9/TGFβ1/Smad signaling pathways are upregulated. However, treatment with empagliflozin reverses this phenomenon. At the cellular level, empagliflozin exhibits similar anti-fibrotic effects, and these effects are attenuated by Compound C and siAMPKα. Empagliflozin exhibits anti-fibrotic effects, possibly associated with the AMPK/MMP9/TGFβ1/Smad signaling pathways.

Pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing: A review from VascAgeNet

Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation.