Endothelial GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) Receptor Mediates Cardiovascular Protection by Liraglutide In Mice With Experimental Arterial Hypertension

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020 Jan;40(1):145-158. doi: 10.1161/atv.0000615456.97862.30. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular outcome trials demonstrated that GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analogs including liraglutide reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Whether GLP-1 analogs reduce the risk for atherosclerosis independent of glycemic control is challenging to elucidate as the GLP-1R (GLP-1 receptor) is expressed on different cell types, including endothelial and immune cells. Approach and Results: Here, we reveal the cardio- and vasoprotective mechanism of the GLP-1 analog liraglutide at the cellular level in a murine, nondiabetic model of arterial hypertension. Wild-type (C57BL/6J), global (Glp1r-/-), as well as endothelial (Glp1rflox/floxxCdh5cre) and myeloid cell-specific knockout mice (Glp1rflox/floxxLysMcre) of the GLP-1R were studied, and arterial hypertension was induced by angiotensin II. Liraglutide treatment normalized blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, vascular fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation in a GLP-1R-dependent manner. Mechanistically, liraglutide reduced leukocyte rolling on the endothelium and infiltration of myeloid Ly6G-Ly6C+ and Ly6G+Ly6C+ cells into the vascular wall. As a consequence, liraglutide prevented vascular oxidative stress, reduced S-glutathionylation as a marker of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) uncoupling, and increased NO bioavailability. Importantly, all of these beneficial cardiovascular effects of liraglutide persisted in myeloid cell GLP-1R-deficient (Glp1rflox/floxxLysMcre) mice but were abolished in global (Glp1r-/-) and endothelial cell-specific (Glp1rflox/floxxCdh5cre) GLP-1R knockout mice.

Conclusions: GLP-1R activation attenuates cardiovascular complications of arterial hypertension by reduction of vascular inflammation through selective actions requiring the endothelial but not the myeloid cell GLP-1R.

Keywords: angiotensin II; glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor; hypertension; inflammation; liraglutide; oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics*
  • Atherosclerosis / prevention & control
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / biosynthesis
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / genetics*
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / genetics*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Liraglutide / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA / genetics*

Substances

  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • RNA
  • Liraglutide

Grants and funding