Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor decreases abdominal aortic aneurysm formation through GLP-1-dependent monocytic activity in mice

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 14;10(4):e0121077. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121077. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening situation affecting almost 10% of elders. There has been no effective medication for AAA other than surgical intervention. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been shown to have a protective effect on cardiovascular disease. Whether DPP-4 inhibitors may be beneficial in the treatment of AAA is unclear. We investigated the effects of DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin on the angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused AAA formation in apoE-deficient (apoE-/-) mice. Mice with induced AAA were treated with placebo or 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg/day sitagliptin. Ang II-infused apoE-/- mice exhibited a 55.6% incidence of AAA formation, but treatment with sitagliptin decreased AAA formation. Specifically, administered sitagliptin in Ang II-infused mice exhibited decreased expansion of the suprarenal aorta, reduced elastin lamina degradation of the aorta, and diminished vascular inflammation by macrophage infiltration. Treatment with sitagliptin decreased gelatinolytic activity and apoptotic cells in aorta tissues. Sitaglipitn, additionally, was associated with increased levels of plasma active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In vitro studies, GLP-1 decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell migration, and MMP-2 as well as MMP-9 activity in Ang II-stimulated monocytic cells. The results conclude that oral administration of sitagliptin can prevent abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in Ang II-infused apoE-/-mice, at least in part, by increasing of GLP-1 activity, decreasing MMP-2 and MMP-9 production from macrophage infiltration. The results indicate that sitagliptin may have therapeutic potential in preventing the development of AAA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / enzymology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / genetics
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / prevention & control*
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Movement
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemotaxis
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / physiology*
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / blood*
  • Humans
  • Infusion Pumps, Implantable
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / analysis
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / analysis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Monocytes / physiology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sitagliptin Phosphate / pharmacology
  • Sitagliptin Phosphate / therapeutic use*
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Angiotensin II
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
  • Dpp4 protein, mouse
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Sitagliptin Phosphate

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC98-2314-B-010-035-MY3 and 99-2314-B-075-011-MV3), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan (V98C1-003, V98F-007, V98A-044, V100C-018, and VGHUST100-G7-4-2) and Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan (DV103-04). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.