SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin may prevent cardiovascular complications in type 1 diabetes: Study

Budapest, Hungary: Recent data published in PLOS One supports the preventive and protective role of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with type 1 diabetes. 

The study provides experimental data for SGLT2i dapagliflozin's (DAPA) cardioprotective effect in T1D. Results showed that DAPA prevents cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and intimal thickening. This suggests that SGLT2i may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity for hindering the development of CVD in type 1 diabetes, thereby improving the outcomes. 

Diabetes patients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in them. Therefore, identifying novel therapeutic strategies that reduce CVD risk is a research priority. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a novel class of antidiabetic drugs used mainly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To date, DAPA is the only approved selective SGLT2i in adults with T1DM in the European Union.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that reduction in the relative risk of heart failure by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are partly beyond their glucose-lowering effects however there is still no clarity on the molecular mechanisms. To fill this knowledge gap, Judit Hodrea, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, and colleagues aimed to investigate the role of dapagliflozin in preventing diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications. 

For this purpose, the researchers induced type 1 diabetes in adult, male Wistar rats with streptozotocin (65 mg/bwkg, IP.). Following the diabetes onset, the rates were treated with DAPA (1 mg/bwkg/day, po.) for six weeks. 

"Our results support the preventive and protective role of SGLT2i in diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease," wrote the authors. "SGLT2i may provide novel therapeutic strategy to hamper CVD development in T1D, thereby improve the outcomes."

Reference:

Hodrea J, Saeed A, Molnar A, Fintha A, Barczi A, Wagner LJ, et al. (2022) SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin prevents atherosclerotic and cardiac complications in experimental type 1 diabetes. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263285. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263285