Dataset Information

The DPP4 Inhibitor Linagliptin Protects from Experimental Diabetic Retinopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background/aims

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, however, their influence on the retinal neurovascular unit remains unclear.

Methods

Vasculo- and neuroprotective effects were assessed in experimental diabetic retinopathy and high glucose-cultivated C. elegans, respectively. In STZ-diabetic Wistar rats (diabetes duration of 24 weeks), DPP4 activity (fluorometric assay), GLP-1 (ELISA), methylglyoxal (LC-MS/MS), acellular capillaries and pericytes (quantitative retinal morphometry), SDF-1a and heme oxygenase-1 (ELISA), HMGB-1, Iba1 and Thy1.1 (immunohistochemistry), nuclei in the ganglion cell layer, GFAP (western blot), and IL-1beta, Icam1, Cxcr4, catalase and beta-actin (quantitative RT-PCR) were determined. In C. elegans, neuronal function was determined using worm tracking software.

Results

Linagliptin decreased DPP4 activity by 77% and resulted in an 11.5-fold increase in active GLP-1. Blood glucose and HbA1c were reduced by 13% and 14% and retinal methylglyoxal by 66%. The increase in acellular capillaries was diminished by 70% and linagliptin prevented the loss of pericytes and retinal ganglion cells. The rise in Iba-1 positive microglia was reduced by 73% with linagliptin. In addition, the increase in retinal Il1b expression was decreased by 65%. As a functional correlate, impairment of motility (body bending frequency) was significantly prevented in C. elegans.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that linagliptin has a protective effect on the microvasculature of the diabetic retina, most likely due to a combination of neuroprotective and antioxidative effects of linagliptin on the neurovascular unit.

SUBMITTER: Dietrich N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5152931 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Patients with long-duration diabetes develop cardiovascular complications resulting in highly increased mortality and complications which affect the kidneys, eyes and peripheral nerves associated with high morbidity. Among the diabetic complications, damage in the eye, diabetic retinopathy, is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision-loss globally. It is characterized by a number of different patho-mechanisms including changes in vascular permeability, capillary degeneration, and finally at a late stage overshooting formation of new blood vessels. This expression analysis focused on the use of different experimental models for Diabetes Mellitus and its complications (for a review see 1: Al-Awar et al: Experimental Diabetes Mellitus in Different Animal Models. J Diabetes Res. 2016; doi: 10.1155/2016/9051426). By that, we wanted to uncover the relative contributions of systemic hyperinsulinaemia and/or hyperglycemia to molecular regulations. The following models have been used: As insulinopenic, hyperglycemic model reflecting Type 1 diabetes, male STZ-Wistar rats (60mg/kg BW; i.p.) were used. Wistar rats without STZ injection served as non-diabetic controls. Male obese ZDF rats (Fa/Fa) were used as type-2 diabetes model characterized by persisting hyperglycemia and transient hyperinsulinemia. Male lean ZDF rats (Fa/-) served as non-diabetic controls. Male obese ZF rats (Fa/Fa) hyperglycemia were used reflecting euglycemia and severe insulin resistance. Male lean ZF rats (Fa/-) served as controls. ZDF and ZF rats were obtained in two genotypes, obese (genotype fa/fa) and lean littermates (genotype Fa/?). All rats were housed in standard cages under a normal light-dark cycle for 16 weeks. All animals had free access to food and water. ZF and Wistar rats received a standard chow (Ssniff R/M) and ZDF rats received Purina 5008 chow. A group size of n=8 were used for all study groups. Wistar rats were rendered type-1 like hyperglycemic and hypoinsulinemic via a single injection of streptocotocin (STZ, 60mg/kg; i.p.) at 7 weeks of age. Obese ZDF rats (fa/fa) develop spontaneously a type-2 diabetes phenotype with persisting hyperglycemia and transient hyperinsulinemia (hyperglycemic, hypoinsulinemic). Obese ZF rats (fa/fa) develop insulin resistance with permanent hyperinsulinemia without concomitant hyperglycemia and no overt diabetes phenotype. Non STZ treated Wistar rats, lean ZDF littermates (Fa/?), and lean ZF littermates (Fa/?) served as controls. All groups were kept for 12 weeks on respective conditions together with appropriate age-matched controls. Unbiased gene expression analysis was performed per group using Affymetrix gene arrays.