Novel insights into the hepatoprotective mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

ABSTRACT: The sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT)2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) is a hypoglycemic drug for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of EMPA in counteracting Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) are poorly understood. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic mechanisms of EMPA treatment (30 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 6 weeks) on hepatic dysfunction observed in diabetic obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats. EMPA activated hepatic insulin signaling, increasing the phosphorylation of insulin receptor, AKT and AMP-activated protein kinase, and downregulated the expression of gluconeogenesis-related genes (glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase). In the liver of EMPA-trea

SUBMITTER: Comella F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12500427 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature