Exendin-4 ameliorates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury via caveolae and caveolins-3

GLP-1 receptor agonist-based therapies and cardiovascular risk: a review of mechanisms

Cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity have confirmed the cardiovascular benefits of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), including reduced cardiovascular mortality, lower rates of myocardial infarction, and lower rates of stroke. The cardiovascular benefits observed following GLP-1RA treatment could be secondary to improvements in glycemia, blood pressure, postprandial lipidemia, and inflammation. Yet, the GLP-1R is also expressed in the heart and vasculature, suggesting that GLP-1R agonism may impact the cardiovascular system. The emergence of GLP-1RAs combined with glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon receptor agonists has shown promising results as new weight loss medications. Dual-agonist and tri-agonist therapies have demonstrated superior outcomes in weight loss, lowered blood sugar and lipid levels, restoration of tissue function, and enhancement of overall substrate metabolism compared to using GLP-1R agonists alone. However, the precise mechanisms underlying their cardiovascular benefits remain to be fully elucidated. This review aims to summarize the findings from CVOTs of GLP-1RAs, explore the latest data on dual and tri-agonist therapies, and delve into potential mechanisms contributing to their cardioprotective effects. It also addresses current gaps in understanding and areas for further research.

Peptides Are Cardioprotective Drugs of the Future: The Receptor and Signaling Mechanisms of the Cardioprotective Effect of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists

The high mortality rate among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the main problems of modern cardiology. It is quite obvious that there is an urgent need to create more effective drugs for the treatment of AMI than those currently used in the clinic. Such drugs could be enzyme-resistant peptide analogs of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists can prevent ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) cardiac injury. In addition, chronic administration of GLP1R agonists can alleviate the development of adverse cardiac remodeling in myocardial infarction, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. GLP1R agonists can protect the heart against oxidative stress and reduce proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1) expression in the myocardium. GLP1R stimulation inhibits apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes. The activation of the GLP1R augments autophagy and mitophagy in the myocardium. GLP1R agonists downregulate reactive species generation through the activation of Epac and the GLP1R/PI3K/Akt/survivin pathway. The GLP1R, kinases (PKCε, PKA, Akt, AMPK, PI3K, ERK1/2, mTOR, GSK-3β, PKG, MEK1/2, and MKK3), enzymes (HO-1 and eNOS), transcription factors (STAT3, CREB, Nrf2, and FoxO3), KATP channel opening, and MPT pore closing are involved in the cardioprotective effect of GLP1R agonists.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists: cardiovascular benefits and mechanisms of action

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are metabolic disorders characterized by excess cardiovascular risk. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor (GLP1R) agonists reduce body weight, glycaemia, blood pressure, postprandial lipaemia and inflammation - actions that could contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have demonstrated that GLP1R agonists reduce the rates of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with T2DM. Separate phase III CVOTs of GLP1R agonists are currently being conducted in people living with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and in those with obesity. Mechanistically, GLP1R is expressed at low levels in the heart and vasculature, raising the possibility that GLP1 might have both direct and indirect actions on the cardiovascular system. In this Review, we summarize the data from CVOTs of GLP1R agonists in patients with T2DM and describe the actions of GLP1R agonists on the heart and blood vessels. We also assess the potential mechanisms that contribute to the reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals treated with GLP1R agonists and highlight the emerging cardiovascular biology of novel GLP1-based multi-agonists currently in development. Understanding how GLP1R signalling protects the heart and blood vessels will optimize the therapeutic use and development of next-generation GLP1-based therapies with improved cardiovascular safety.

Exendin-4 alleviates myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by enhancing autophagy through promoting nuclear translocation of TFEB

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (IRI) is a common clinical consequence of myocardial infarction. Exendin-4 is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog that has been demonstrated to alleviate myocardial IRI. Autophagy, a lysosomal pathway balancing cell survival and cell death, is engaged in myocardial IRI. However, whether exendin-4 exerts a protective effect on myocardial IRI by modulating autophagy remains elusive. Herein, we investigated the effect of exendin-4 on autophagic flux and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our data revealed that the autophagic flux was blocked in the human ventricular cardiomyocyte cell lines (AC16) subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro. Exendin-4 pre-treatment markedly restored the blocked autophagic flux induced by OGD/R through promoting nuclear translocation of TFEB and transcription of genes involving autophagy initiation, the effect of which was reversed by TFEB knockdown. The restoration of autophagic flux contributed to multiple beneficial effects of exendin-4 in cardiomyocytes, including reduction of oxidative stress, preservation of mitochondrial network as well as inhibition of cytochrome c leakage from mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and the resulting apoptosis. Moreover, the administration of exendin-4 reduced infarct size and preserved cardiac function through its anti-apoptosis and antioxidative effects in vivo. These results shed some light on understanding the novel mechanism of exendin-4 as a protective agent against myocardial IRI.

New Therapeutic Options for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Impact Against Ischemic Heart Disease

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) greatly increases risk for cardiovascular disease, including ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. With the completion of several cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) for new glucose-lowering therapies, including the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, we now have strong evidence alluding to the cardioprotective nature of these agents in people with T2DM. These agents have frequently been observed to reduce rates for 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events, which encompass death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Herein we will provide an overview on whether reductions in nonfatal myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease status are a key component of the improved cardiovascular outcomes in people with T2DM treated with either SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1R agonists. Observations from preclinical studies will be compared to their clinical counterparts, while being further interrogated to define potential mechanisms that may account for SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1R agonist-induced cardioprotection against ischemic heart disease. A better understanding of the role these agents have in impacting the progression of ischemic heart disease in individuals with T2DM will have a substantial impact in our management of this patient population.

Discrepancy between the Actions of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Ligands in the Protection of the Heart against Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Tirzepatide is a dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist and a promising therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). GLP-1 is an incretin hormone with therapeutic potential beyond type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, GLP-1 is rapidly degraded by dipeptdyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) to GLP-1 (9-36). Exendin-4 (Ex-4) is a DPP-IV-resistant GLP-1 receptor agonist which, when truncated to Ex-4 (9-39), acts as a GLP-1 receptor antagonist. In the present study, hearts isolated from Wistar rats (n = 8 per group) were perfused with a modified Langendorff preparation. Left ventricular (LV) contractility and cardiovascular hemodynamics were evaluated by a data acquisition program and infarct size was evaluated by 2,3,5-Triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and cardiac enzyme levels. Hearts were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia, produced by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery followed by 30 min reperfusion. Hearts were treated during reperfusion with either the non-lipidated precursor of tirzepatide (NLT), GLP-1, GLP-1 (9-36), or Ex-4 in the presence or absence of Ex-4 (9-39). Infusion of GLP-1 (9-36) or Ex-4 protected the heart against I/R injury (p > 0.01) by normalizing cardiac hemodynamic and enzyme levels. Neither GLP-1, NLT, nor Ex-4 (9-39) showed any protection. Interestingly, Ex-4 (9-39) blocked Ex-4-mediated protection but not that of GLP-1 (9-36). These data suggest that Ex-4-mediated protection is GLP-1-receptor-dependent but GLP-1 (9-36)-mediated protection is not.

Leucine imparts cardioprotective effects by enhancing mTOR activity and mitochondrial fusion in a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury murine model

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes. Previously, we demonstrated that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) showed cardioprotective effects against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. A recent study suggested that leucine (Leu), a BCAA, is a key amino acid involved in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity and mitochondrial function. However, whether Leu has cardioprotective effects on diabetic hearts is unclear. In this study, we examined the preconditioning effect of Leu treatment on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse which simulate prediabetic heart.

METHODS

In vivo mice models of I/R injury were divided into the following groups: control, mTOR^+/-, and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese groups. Mice were randomly administered with Leu, the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (Rap), or Leu with Rap. Isolated rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to simulated I/R injury. Biochemical and mitochondrial functional assays were performed to evaluate the changes in mTOR activity and mitochondrial dynamics caused by Leu treatment.

RESULTS

Leu-treated mice showed a significant reduction in infarct size when compared with the control group (34.8% ± 3.8% vs. 43.1% ± 2.4%, n = 7, p < 0.05), whereas Rap-treated mice did not show the protective effects of Leu. This preconditioning effect of Leu was attenuated in mTOR^+/- mice. Additionally, Leu increased the percentage of fused mitochondria and the mitochondrial volume, and decreased the number of mitochondria per cell in isolated cardiomyocytes. In HFD-induced obese mice, Leu treatment significantly reduced infarct size (41.0% ± 1.1% vs. 51.0% ± 1.4%, n = 7, p < 0.05), which was not induced by ischemic preconditioning, and this effect was inhibited by Rap. Furthermore, we observed enhanced mTOR protein expression and mitochondrial fusion with decreased reactive oxygen species production with Leu treatment in HFD-induced obese mice, but not in mTOR^+/- mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Leu treatment improved the damage caused by myocardial I/R injury by promoting mTOR activity and mitochondrial fusion on prediabetic hearts in mice.

Leucine induces cardioprotection in vitro by promoting mitochondrial function via mTOR and Opa-1 signaling

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Coronary heart disease is a major global health concern. Further, severity of this condition is greatly influenced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have cardioprotective effects against I/R via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, wherein Leu is considered to particularly regulate mTOR activation. However, the mechanism underlying cardioprotective effects of Leu via mTOR activity is not fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to study the signaling pathway of cardioprotection and mitochondrial function induced by Leu treatment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cardiac myocytes isolated from adult male Wistar rats were incubated and exposed to simulated I/R (SI/R) injury by replacing the air content. Cardiac myocytes were treated with Leu and subsequently, their survival rate was calculated. To elucidate the signaling pathway and mitochondrial function, immunoblots and mitochondrial permeability transition pore were examined. Cell survival rate was decreased with SI/R but improved by 160 μM Leu (38.5 ± 3.6% vs. 64.5 ± 4.2%, respectively, p < 0.001). Although rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) prevented this cardioprotective effect induced by Leu, wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor) did not interfere with this effect. In addition, we indicated that overexpression of Opa-1 and mitochondrial function are ameliorated via Leu-induced mitochondrial biogenesis. In contrast, knockdown of Opa-1 suppressed Leu-induced cardioprotection.

CONCLUSION

Leu treatment is critical in rendering a cardioprotective effect exhibited by BCAAs via mTOR signaling. Furthermore, Leu improved mitochondrial function.

Exendin-4 Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Upregulation of SIRT1 and SIRT3 and Activation of AMPK

This study evaluated if the cardioprotective effect of Exendin-4 against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in male rats involves modulation of AMPK and sirtuins. Adult male rats were divided into sham, sham + Exendin-4, I/R, I/R + Exendin-4, and I/R + Exendin-4 + EX-527, a sirt1 inhibitor. Exendin-4 reduced infarct size and preserved the function and structure of the left ventricles (LV) of I/R rats. It also inhibited oxidative stress and apoptosis and upregulated MnSOD and Bcl-2 in their infarcted myocardium. With no effect on SIRTs 2/6/7, Exendin-4 activated and upregulated mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1, increased levels of SIRT3 protein, activated AMPK, and reduced the acetylation of p53 and PGC-1α as well as the phosphorylation of FOXO-1. EX-527 completely abolished all beneficial effects of Exendin-4 in I/R-induced rats. In conclusion, Exendin-4 cardioprotective effect against I/R involves activation of SIRT1 and SIRT3. Graphical Abstract Exendin-4 could scavenge free radical directly, upregulate p53, and through upregulation of SIRT1 and stimulating SIRT1 nuclear accumulation. In addition, Exendin-4 also upregulates SIRT3 which plays an essential role in the upregulation of antioxidants, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and prevention of mitochondria damage. Accordingly, SIRT1 induces the deacetylation of PGC-1α and p53 and is able to bind p-FOXO-1. This results in inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis through increasing Bcl-2 levels, activity, and levels of MnSOD; decreasing expression of Bax; decreasing cytochrome C release; and improving mitochondria biogenesis through upregulation of Mfn-2.

Caveolin-3 protects diabetic hearts from acute myocardial infarction/reperfusion injury through β2AR, cAMP/PKA, and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways

Diabetes mellitus (DM) might increase the incidence and mortality of cardiac failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients. We attempted to investigate whether Caveolin-3 showed beneficial effects in DM patient post-MI injury through the cAMP/PKA and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways. The activity of ADRB2 and cAMP/PKA signaling were impaired in nondiabetic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group compared with the sham and DM groups and were more impaired in diabetic I/R group than in the I/R group. In H9C2 cells, high-glucose (HG) stimulation further enhanced H/R injury by promoting cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell viability, and suppressing TrkB and Akt signaling; in contrast, the ADRB2 agonist isoprenaline (ISO) significantly attenuated the above-described effects of HG stimulation. Caveolin-3 overexpression promoted the localization of ADRB2 on the membrane of the HG-stimulated H9C2 cells, subsequently inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell viability. Under HG stimulation, Caveolin-3 overexpression enhanced the activity of the cAMP/PKA and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways, whereas ADRB2 silencing reversed the effects of Caveolin-3 overexpression. In conclusion, ADRB2 agonist promoted the activity of the BDNF/TrkB and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways, mitigating the HG-aggravated H/R injuries in H9C2 cells. Caveolin-3 exerts a protective effect on diabetic hearts against I/R damage through the β2AR, cAMP/PKA, and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways.

Exendin-4 protects the hearts of rats from ischaemia/reperfusion injury by boosting antioxidant levels and inhibition of JNK/p66 Shc/NADPH axis

Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, was shown to protect against cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by suppressing oxidative stress. p66 Shc, a pro-oxidant and an apoptotic protein, is activated in the infarcted left ventricles (LVs) after induction of I/R. This study investigated if the cardiac protective effect of Exendin-4 against I/R injury in rats involves inhibition of p66 Shc and to determine the underlying mechanisms behind this. Adult male rats (n = 12/group) were divided into four groups as a sham, a sham + Exendin-4, an I/R, and an I/R + Exendin-4. Exendin-4 was administered to rats 7 days before the induction of I/R. Ischaemia was induced by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 40 minutes followed by reperfusion for 10 minutes. The infarct myocardium was used for further analysis. Exendin-4 significantly reduced infarct area (by 62%), preserved LV function and lowered serum levels of LDH and CK-MB in I/R-induced rats. Also, it significantly reduced LV levels of ROS and MDA and protein levels of cytochrome-c and cleaved caspase-3 but significantly increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in LVs of I/R rats indicating antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Furthermore, it inhibited JNK and p66 Shc activation and downregulated protein levels of p66 Shc and NADPH oxidase with no effect on protein levels/activity of p53 and PKCβII. Of note, Exendin-4 also increased GSH and MnSOD in LVs of control rats. In conclusion, Exendin-4 cardioprotective effect in I/R hearts is mediated mainly by antioxidant effect and inhibition of JNK/P66 Shc/NADPH oxidase.

Milrinone Attenuates Heart and Lung Remote Injury after Abdominal Aortic Cross-Clamping

BACKGROUND

Phosphodiesterase enzymes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (IR). We examined the role of milrinone (MIL), a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, on remote injury of the heart and lung after abdominal aortic cross-clamping.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

METHODS

Twenty-one Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: (1) control (C, n = 7), underwent laparotomy and exploration of abdominal aorta only; (2) IR (n = 7), normal saline was applied intraperitoneally (i.p) before IR induced by clamping of the abdominal aorta for 1 hr and then allowing reperfusion for 1 hr; and (3) MIL + IR (n = 7), MIL was given (0.5 mg/kg, i.p) before IR. After sacrification, the lungs and hearts were taken out for analyses and the tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were studied. All tissues were examined under light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Expressions of caveolin (Cav)-1 in the lung and Cav-1 and Cav-3 in the heart were examined immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

The MIL + IR group had significantly a lower magnitude of oxidative stress than the IR group both in the lung and heart (lung: P = 0.03 for MDA and 0.001 for GSH and heart: P = 0.002 for MDA and 0.000 for GSH). In light microscopy, the MIL + IR group had statistically a lower total injury score than the IR group for both the lung and heart tissue (P = 0.03 and P = 0.04, respectively). In TEM, regression of mitochondrial degeneration and lamellar bodies in type II pneumocytes in the lungs and obvious improvements in disruption at the intercalated discs and mitochondrial degeneration in the hearts in the MIL + IR group were detected compared with the IR group. The expression of both Cav-1 and Cav-3 in the MIL + IR group was improved compared with the IR group (P = 0.03 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

MIL attenuates remote injury of heart and lung in lower body IR by inhibiting oxidative stress. Moreover, Cav-1 and Cav-3 might have a potential role in MIL-induced cardioprotection.

Geniposide protects against sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction through AMPKα-dependent pathway

Uncontrolled inflammatory response and subsequent cardiomyocytes loss (apoptosis and pyroptosis) are closely involved in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction. Our previous study has found that geniposide (GE) can protect the murine hearts against obesity-induced inflammation. However, the effect of GE on sepsis-related cardiac dysfunction is still unknown. Mice were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to generate sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction. And 50 mg/kg GE was used to treat mice for consecutive 7 days. Our results showed that GE treatment significantly improved survival rate and cardiac function, and suppressed myocardial inflammatory response, as well as myocardial loss in LPS-treated mice. Those effects of GE were largely abolished in NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-deficient mice. Further detection revealed that the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation depended on the reduction of p47phox by GE. GE treatment restored the phosphorylation and activity of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) in the hearts of sepsis mice, and knockout of AMPKα abolished the protection of GE against reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and cardiomyocytes loss in sepsis mice. In conclusion, our findings revealed that GE activated AMPKα to suppress myocardial ROS accumulation, thus blocking NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and pyroptosis and improving cardiac function in mice with sepsis.

Hyperglycemia-Induced Oxidative Stress Abrogates Remifentanil Preconditioning-Mediated Cardioprotection in Diabetic Rats by Impairing Caveolin-3-Modulated PI3K/Akt and JAK2/STAT3 Signaling

Diabetic hearts are more vulnerable to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and less responsive to remifentanil preconditioning (RPC), but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Caveolin-3 (Cav-3), the dominant isoform of cardiomyocyte caveolae, is reduced in diabetic hearts in which oxidative stress is increased. This study determined whether the compromised RPC in diabetes was an independent manifestation of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress or linked to impaired Cav-3 expression with associated signaling abnormality. RPC significantly attenuated postischemic infarction, cardiac dysfunction, myocardial apoptosis, and 15-F2t-isoprostane production (a specific marker of oxidative stress), accompanied with increased Cav-3 expression and enhanced Akt and STAT3 activation in control but not in diabetic rats. Pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated hyperglycemia-induced reduction of Cav-3 expression and Akt and STAT3 activation and restored RPC-mediated cardioprotection in diabetes, which was abolished by cardiac-specific knockdown of Cav-3 by AAV9-shRNA-Cav-3, PI3K/Akt inhibitor wortmannin, or JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor AG490, respectively. Similarly, NAC could restore RPC protection from high glucose and hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury evidenced by decreased levels of LDH release, 15-F2t-isoprostane, O₂ ^-, and JC-1 monomeric cells, which were reversed by caveolae disrupter methyl-β-cyclodextrin, wortmannin, or AG490 in isolated primary cardiomyocytes or siRNAs of Cav-3, Akt, or STAT3 in H9C2 cells. Either methyl-β-cyclodextrin or Cav-3 knockdown reduced Akt and STAT3 activation. Further, the inhibition of Akt activation by a selective inhibitor or siRNA reduced STAT3 activation and vice versa, but they had no effects on Cav-3 expression. Thus, hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress abrogates RPC cardioprotection by impairing Cav-3-modulated PI3K/Akt and JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Antioxidant treatment with NAC could restore RPC-induced cardioprotection in diabetes by improving Cav-3-dependent Akt and STAT3 activation and by facilitating the cross talk between PI3K/Akt and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.

Exenatide Reduces Graft Injury in a Rat Transplantation Model Using Kidneys Donated after Cardiac Death

Besides being used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes, exenatide reduces cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We evaluated the potential effects of exenatide on inhibition of apoptosis in kidney grafts donated after cardiac death and on reduction of I/R injury after kidney transplantation (KTx) in a rat model. We used a rat syngeneic KTx model with kidney grafts obtained after cardiac death, and apoptosis was detected in the graft before KTx. Graft function, rat survival, morphologic examination, and activation of inflammatory molecules were analyzed after KTx. By the end of the cold storage, exenatide pretreatment donors had significantly reduced caspase pathway activation, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling--positive cells, release of mitochondrial porin proteins into the cytosol, and expression of cleaved caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in kidney grafts. Exenatide pretreatment improved renal function survival rate with lower scores of acute tubular necrosis, infiltrating macrophages, and interstitial fibrosis as well as reduced messenger RNA expression of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1) after KTx. Our study showed that exenatide reduced I/R injury in kidneys donated after cardiac death in a rat transplantation model and improved recipient survival and graft function.

Fighting Type-2 Diabetes: Present and Future Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Type-2 diabetes mellitus accounts for 80-90% of diabetic patients. So far, the treatment of diabetes mainly aims at elevating insulin level and lowering glucose level in the peripheral blood and mitigating insulin resistance. Physiologically, insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells is delicately regulated. Thus, how insulin-related therapies could titrate blood glucose appropriately and avoid the occurrence of hypoglycemia remains an important issue for decades. Similar question is addressed on how to attenuate vascular complication in diabetic subjects.

METHODS

We overviewed the evolution of each class of anti-diabetic drugs that have been used in clinical practice, focusing on their mechanisms, clinical results and cautions.

RESULTS

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists stimulate β cells for insulin secretion in response to diet but not in fasting stage, which make them superior than conventional insulinsecretion stimulators. DPP-4 inhibitors suppress glucagon-like peptide-1 degradation. Sodium/ glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors enhance glucose clearance through urine excretion. The appearance of these new drugs provides new information about glycemic control. We update the clinical findings of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors and Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in glycemic control and the risk or progression of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. Stem cell therapy might be an alternative tool for diabetic patients to improve β cell regeneration and peripheral ischemia. We summarize the clinical results of mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into patients with diabetic limb and foot.

CONCLUSION

A stepwise intensification of dual and triple therapy for individual diabetic patient is required to achieve therapeutic target.

TIR/BB-loop mimetic AS-1 attenuates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury via a caveolae and caveolin-3-dependent mechanism

AS-1, the TIR/BB loop mimetic, plays a protective role in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The muscle specific caveolin3 (Cav-3) and the caveolae have been found to be critical for cardioprotection. This study aimed to evaluate our hypothesis that caveolae and Cav-3 are essential for AS-1-induced cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury. To address these issues, we analyzed the involvement of Cav-3 in AS-1 mediated cardioprotection both in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate that AS-1 administration significantly decreased infarct size, improved cardiac function after myocardial I/R and modulated membrane caveolae and Cav-3 expression in the myocardium. For in vitro studies, AS-1 treatment prevented Cav-3 re-distribution induced by H/R injury. In contrast, disruption of caveolae by MCD treatment or Cav-3 knockdown abolished the protection against H/R-induced myocytes injury by AS-1. Our findings reveal that AS-1 attenuates myocardial I/R injury through caveolae and Cav-3 dependent mechanism.

Cardioprotective kinase signaling to subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria is mediated by caveolar structures

The demonstration that caveolin-3 overexpression reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and our own finding that multiprotein signaling complexes increase in mitochondria in association with caveolin-3 levels, led us to investigate the contribution of caveolae-driven extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) on maintaining the function of cardiac mitochondrial subpopulations from reperfused hearts subjected to postconditioning (PostC). Rat hearts were isolated and subjected to ischemia/reperfusion and to PostC. Enhanced cardiac function, reduced infarct size and preserved ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes were associated with increased formation of caveolar structures, augmented levels of caveolin-3 and mitochondrial ERK1/2 activation in PostC hearts in both subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) subpopulations. Disruption of caveolae with methyl-β-cyclodextrin abolished cardioprotection in PostC hearts and diminished pho-ERK1/2 gold-labeling in both mitochondrial subpopulations in correlation with suppression of resistance to permeability transition pore opening. Also, differences between the mitochondrial subpopulations in the setting of PostC were evaluated. Caveolae disruption with methyl-β-cyclodextrin abolished the cardioprotective effect of postconditioning by inhibiting the interaction of ERK1/2 with mitochondria and promoted decline in mitochondrial function. SSM, which are particularly sensitive to reperfusion damage, take advantage of their location in cardiomyocyte boundary and benefit from the cardioprotective signaling driven by caveolae, avoiding injury propagation.

N-acetylcysteine attenuates myocardial dysfunction and postischemic injury by restoring caveolin-3/eNOS signaling in diabetic rats

Background

Patients with diabetes are prone to develop cardiac hypertrophy and more susceptible to myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury, which are concomitant with hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and impaired endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)/NO signaling. Caveolae are critical in the transduction of eNOS/NO signaling in cardiovascular system. Caveolin (Cav)-3, the cardiomyocytes-specific caveolae structural protein, is decreased in the diabetic heart in which production of reactive oxygen species are increased. We hypothesized that treatment with antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could enhance cardiac Cav-3 expression and attenuate caveolae dysfunction and the accompanying eNOS/NO signaling abnormalities in diabetes.

Methods

Control or streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were either untreated or treated with NAC (1.5 g/kg/day, NAC) by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Rats in subgroup were randomly assigned to receive 30 min of left anterior descending artery ligation followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Isolated rat cardiomyocytes or H9C2 cells were exposed to low glucose (LG, 5.5 mmol/L) or high glucose (HG, 25 mmol/L) for 36 h before being subjected to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 4 h of reoxygenation (H/R).

Results

NAC treatment ameliorated myocardial dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy, and attenuated myocardial I/R injury and post-ischemic cardiac dysfunction in diabetic rats. NAC attenuated the reductions of NO, Cav-3 and phosphorylated eNOS and mitigated the augmentation of O₂⁻, nitrotyrosine and 15-F2t-isoprostane in diabetic myocardium. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated the colocalization of Cav-3 and eNOS in isolated cardiomyocytes. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that diabetic conditions decreased the association of Cav-3 and eNOS in isolated cardiomyocytes, which was enhanced by treatment with NAC. Disruption of caveolae by methyl-β-cyclodextrin or Cav-3 siRNA transfection reduced eNOS phosphorylation. NAC treatment attenuated the reductions of Cav-3 expression and eNOS phosphorylation in HG-treated cardiomyocytes or H9C2 cells. NAC treatment attenuated HG and H/R induced cell injury, which was abolished during concomitant treatment with Cav-3 siRNA or eNOS siRNA.

Conclusions

Hyperglycemia-induced inhibition of eNOS activity might be consequences of caveolae dysfunction and reduced Cav-3 expression. Antioxidant NAC attenuated myocardial dysfunction and myocardial I/R injury by improving Cav-3/eNOS signaling.

Caveolin-1/-3: therapeutic targets for myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Caveolae, caveolin-1 (Cav-1), and caveolin-3 (Cav-3) are essential for the protective effects of conditioning against myocardial I/R injury. Caveolins are membrane-bound scaffolding proteins that compartmentalize and modulate signal transduction. In this review, we introduce caveolae and caveolins and briefly describe the interactions of caveolins in the cardiovascular diseases. We also review the roles of Cav-1/-3 in protection against myocardial ischemia and I/R injury, and in conditioning. Finally, we suggest several potential research avenues that may be of interest to clinicians and basic scientists. The information included, herein, is potentially useful for the design of future studies and should advance the investigation of caveolins as therapeutic targets.

Metabolically-inactive glucagon-like peptide-1(9-36)amide confers selective protective actions against post-myocardial infarction remodelling

Background

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies are routinely used for glycaemic control in diabetes and their emerging cardiovascular actions have been a major recent research focus. In addition to GLP-1 receptor activation, the metabolically-inactive breakdown product, GLP-1(9–36)amide, also appears to exert notable cardiovascular effects, including protection against acute cardiac ischaemia. Here, we specifically studied the influence of GLP-1(9–36)amide on chronic post-myocardial infarction (MI) remodelling, which is a major driver of heart failure progression.

Methods

Adult female C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to permanent coronary artery ligation or sham surgery prior to continuous infusion with GLP-1(9–36)amide or vehicle control for 4 weeks.

Results

Infarct size was similar between groups with no effect of GLP-1(9–36)amide on MI-induced cardiac hypertrophy, although modest reduction of in vitro phenylephrine-induced H9c2 cardiomyoblast hypertrophy was observed. Whilst echocardiographic systolic dysfunction post-MI remained unchanged, diastolic dysfunction (decreased mitral valve E/A ratio, increased E wave deceleration rate) was improved by GLP-1(9–36)amide treatment. This was associated with modulation of genes related to extracellular matrix turnover (MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2), although interstitial fibrosis and pro-fibrotic gene expression were unaltered by GLP-1(9–36)amide. Cardiac macrophage infiltration was also reduced by GLP-1(9–36)amide together with pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1), whilst in vitro studies using RAW264.7 macrophages revealed global potentiation of basal pro-inflammatory and tissue protective cytokines (e.g. IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, Fizz1) in the presence of GLP-1(9–36)amide versus exendin-4.

Conclusions

These data suggest that GLP-1(9–36)amide confers selective protection against post-MI remodelling via preferential preservation of diastolic function, most likely due to modulation of infiltrating macrophages, indicating that this often overlooked GLP-1 breakdown product may exert significant actions in this setting which should be considered in the context of GLP-1 therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Protection against cardiac hypertrophy by geniposide involves the GLP-1 receptor / AMPKα signalling pathway

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor exerts a range of cardioprotective effects. Geniposide is an agonist of GLP-1 receptor, but its role in cardiac hypertrophy remains completely unknown. Here, we have investigated its protective effects and clarified the underlying molecular mechanisms.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The transverse aorta was constricted in C57/B6 mice and then geniposide was given orally for 7 weeks. Morphological changes, echocardiographic parameters, histological analyses and hypertrophic markers were used to evaluate hypertrophy.

KEY RESULTS

Geniposide inhibited the hypertrophic response induced by constriction of the transverse aorta or by isoprenaline. Activation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin, ERK and endoplasmic reticulum stress were observed in hypertrophic hearts that were treated with geniposide. Furthermore, Compound C (CpC) or knock-down of AMPKα restricted protection of geniposide against cell hypertrophy and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin and ERK induced by hypertrophic stimuli. CpC or shAMPKα also abolished the protection of geniposide against endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin or dihtiothreitol. The cardio-protective effects of geniposide were ablated in mice subjected to CpC. GLP-1receptor blockade counteracted the anti-hypertrophic response and activation of AMPKα by geniposide. Knock-down of GLP-1 receptor also offset the inhibitory effects of geniposide on cardiac hypertrophy in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Geniposide protected against cardiac hypertrophy via activation of the GLP-1 receptor/AMPKα pathway. Geniposide is a potential therapeutic drug for cardiac hypertrophy.

Cardiac myocyte-protective effect of microRNA-22 during ischemia and reperfusion through disrupting the caveolin-3/eNOS signaling

MicroRNA-22 (miR-22) was previously reported to elicit cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and had an anti-apoptotic effect on neurons. However, its effects on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and cardiac function during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) are not clear. In the present study, we demonstrate that pre-administration of miR-22 mimic reduced I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction significantly in a rat model. We found that miR-22 overexpression inhibited cardiac myocyte apoptosis, and reduced cardiac remodeling during I/R. Significant cardiac myocyte apoptosis was also observed in a cardiac myocyte model after hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), a representative process of I/R. Further experiments showed that eNOS activity and the following NO production were significantly decreased during I/R and H/R, while such decrease was inhibited by overexpression of miR-22. Mechanistically, overexpression of miR-22 had little effect on the total protein level of eNOS, but restored the level of p-eNOS (Ser1177) which was down-regulated during H/R. Further RT-PCR results demonstrated that Caveolin 3 (Cav3), an upstream negative regulator of eNOS, was upregulated during H/R, resulting in a decrease of p-eNOS. However, such upregulation of Cav3 transcript level was inhibited directly by miR-22 during H/R, leading to a restored p-eNOS level and followed NO production in cardiac myocytes. Together, the present study revealed that miR-22 down-regulated Cav3, leading to restored eNOS activity and NO production, which further inhibited cardiac myocyte apoptosis and promoted cardiac function after I/R. Of clinical interest, the present study may highlight miR-22 as a potential therapeutic agent for reducing I/R induced cardiac injury.

Association among weight change, glycemic control, and markers of cardiovascular risk with exenatide once weekly: a pooled analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

Overweight or obesity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and increases cardiovascular risk. Exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, significantly reduces glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and body weight and improves cardiovascular risk markers in patients with T2DM. As weight loss alone has been shown to reduce A1C and cardiovascular risk markers, this analysis explored whether weight loss contributed importantly to clinical responses to exenatide once weekly.

Methods

A pooled analysis from eight studies of exenatide once weekly was conducted. Patients were distributed into quartiles from greatest weight loss (Quartile 1) to least loss or gain (Quartile 4). Parameters evaluated for each quartile included A1C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood pressure (BP), heart rate, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

Results

The median changes from baseline in body weight in Quartiles 1–4 were −6.0, –3.0, −1.0, and +1.0 kg, respectively. All quartiles had reductions in A1C (median changes −1.6, −1.4, −1.1, and −1.2%, respectively) and FPG (−41, −40, −31, and −25 mg/dL, respectively), with the greatest decreases in Quartiles 1 and 2. Most cardiovascular risk markers (except diastolic BP) and liver enzymes improved in Quartiles 1 through 3 and were relatively unchanged in Quartile 4. Higher rates of gastrointestinal adverse events and hypoglycemia were observed in Quartile 1 compared with Quartiles 2 through 4.

Conclusions

Exenatide once weekly improved glycemic parameters independent of weight change, although the magnitude of improvement increased with increasing weight loss. The greatest trend of improvement in glycemic parameters, cardiovascular risk factors including systolic BP, LDL-C, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, and in liver enzymes, was seen in the patient quartiles with the greatest reductions in body weight.

The association of the treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exenatide or insulin with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the association of treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exenatide and/or insulin on macrovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective longitudinal pharmaco-epidemiological study using large ambulatory care data to evaluate the risks of heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in established T2DM patients who received a first prescription of exenatide twice daily (EBID) or insulin between June 2005 and May 2009, with follow-up data available until December 2012. Three treatment groups were: EBID with oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs) (EBID, n = 2804), insulin with OADs (Insulin, n = 28551), and those who changed medications between EBID and insulin or had combination of EBID and insulin during follow-up, along with OADs (EBID + insulin, n = 7870). Multivariate Cox-regression models were used to evaluate the association of treatment groups with the risks of macrovascular events.

RESULTS

During a median 3.5 years of follow-up, cardiovascular event rates per 1000 person-years were significantly lower for the EBID and EBID + insulin groups compared to the insulin group (HF: 4.4 and 6.1 vs. 17.9; MI: 1.1 and 1.2 vs. 2.5; stroke: 2.4 and 1.8 vs. 6.1). Patients in the EBID/EBID + insulin group had significantly reduced risk of HF, MI and stroke by 61/56%, 50/38% and 52/63% respectively, compared to patients in the insulin group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with exenatide, with or without concomitant insulin was associated with reduced macrovascular risks compared to insulin; although inherent potential bias in epidemiological studies should be considered.