DPP-4 (CD26) inhibitor alogliptin inhibits atherosclerosis in diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2011 Aug;58(2):157-66. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e31821e5626.

Abstract

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4 or CD26) inhibitors, a new class of antidiabetic compounds, are effective in the treatment of hyperglycemia. Because atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases are the major complications of diabetes, it is important to determine the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on atherosclerosis. In this study, nondiabetic and diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were treated with DPP-4 inhibitor alogliptin for 24 weeks, and atherosclerotic lesions in aortic origins were examined. Results showed that diabetes significantly increased atherosclerotic lesions, but alogliptin treatment reduced atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic mice. Metabolic studies showed that diabetes increased plasma glucose and that alogliptin treatment reduced glucose. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry study showed that diabetes increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β protein expression in atherosclerotic plaques, but alogliptin treatment attenuated diabetes-augmented IL-6 and IL-1β expression. In consistence with the observations from the mouse models, our in vitro studies showed that alogliptin-inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)-mediated upregulation of IL-6, IL-1β, and other proinflammatory cytokines by mononuclear cells. Taken together, our findings showed that alogliptin-inhibited atherosclerosis in diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and that the actions of alogliptin on both glucose and inflammation may contribute to the inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency*
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / enzymology
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • Atherosclerosis / prevention & control*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / enzymology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / metabolism*
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Triglycerides / metabolism
  • U937 Cells
  • Uracil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uracil / pharmacology
  • Uracil / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Blood Glucose
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Piperidines
  • Triglycerides
  • Uracil
  • Cholesterol
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
  • Dpp4 protein, mouse
  • alogliptin