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. 2012 Sep 7:3:112.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2012.00112. eCollection 2012.

Incretin hormones as immunomodulators of atherosclerosis

Nuria Alonso  1 , M Teresa Julián, Manuel Puig-Domingo, Marta Vives-Pi
Affiliations

Incretin hormones as immunomodulators of atherosclerosis

Nuria Alonso et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Atherosclerosis results from endothelial cell dysfunction and inflammatory processes affecting both macro- and microvasculature which are involved in vascular diabetic complications. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone responsible for amplification of insulin secretion when nutrients are given orally as opposed to intravenously and it retains its insulinotropic activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). GLP-1 based therapies, such as GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4, an enzyme that degrades endogenous GLP-1 are routinely used to treat patients with T2D. Recent experimental model studies have established that GLP-1R mRNA is widely expressed in several immune cells. Moreover, its activation contributes to the regulation of both thymocyte and peripheral T cells proliferation and is involved in the maintenance of peripheral regulatory T cells. GLP-1R is also expressed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The effect of incretin hormones on atherosclerogenesis have recently been studied in animal models of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoE(-/-)). These studies have demonstrated that treatment with incretin hormones or related compounds suppresses the progression of atherosclerosis and macrophage infiltration in the arterial wall as well as a marked anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect on endothelial cells. This effect may have a major impact on the attenuation of atherosclerosis and may help in the design of new therapies for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: GIP; GLP-1; atherosclerosis; diabetes; incretins.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Direct and indirect effects of GLP-1 on the cardiovascular system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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