Effect of Saxagliptin, a Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitor, on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

• Main Authors: Chen L, Zhang X, Zhang L, Zheng D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-10-01
• Series: Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity : Targets and Therapy
• Subjects: dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; inflammation; insulin resistance
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/effect-of-saxagliptin-a-dipeptidyl-peptidase-4-inhibitor-on-non-alcoho-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO
• ISSN: 1178-7007

Lin Chen,1,* Xiujuan Zhang,2,* Li Zhang,3 Dongmei Zheng2 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dongmei ZhengDepartment of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province 250021, People’s Republic of ChinaTel + 86 531 68776375Email [e-mail] and Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a broad spectrum of chronic liver disease characterized by aberrant accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in hepatocytes without excessive alcohol consumption. Hepatic lipotoxicity derived from overaccumulation of free fatty acids is considered as one of the typical hallmarks of NAFLD. Insulin resistance (IR) and chronic inflammation are widely recognized as the key etiological factors associated with NAFLD. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP4i) is a novel pharmacological agent extensively applied in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) for decades which also have a liver protective effect.Methods: In order to invest the therapeutic efficiency and underlying mechanism of DPP4i saxagliptin, we used high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin-induced NAFLD treated with saxagliptin. Biochemical, histomorphological, genetic and protein expression of related pathways were investigated.Results: Fasting blood glucose (FBG), TG, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterin significantly increased in NAFLD group, which also exhibited severe steatosis. Other remarkable findings were hyperinsulinemia, increased DPP4, PTP-1B and TNF-α level and decreased GLP-1, ACOX-1, CPT-1A expression, concomitant with liver DPP4 expression enhancement and serum DPP4 elevation. These undesirable consequences were alleviated by saxagliptin to a certain degree.Conclusion: DPP4i saxagliptin improves NAFLD by ameliorating IR, inflammation, downregulation of hepatic DPP4 and sDPP4, as well as subsequent steatosis. The elevation of hepatic DPP4 and sDPP4 and succedent post-treatment decrease suggested that DPP4 may involve in the development of NAFLD. The anti-lipotoxic effect of DPP4i may involve the activation of CPT1A and ACOX1 related β-oxidation signaling pathway suppression of TNF-α mediated inflammatory and PTP-1B. The results covered in this article showed that saxagliptin affects many aspects of the pathological characteristics of NAFLD, suggesting that DPP4i saxagliptin may offer a novel therapeutic option for NAFLD.Keywords: dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor DPP4i, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD, inflammation, insulin resistance IR