Evogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, attenuates pathological retinal angiogenesis by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor-induced Arf6 activation

Exp Mol Med. 2020 Oct;52(10):1744-1753. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-00512-8. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Abstract

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Recent studies have shown that beyond their effect in lowing glucose, DPP-4 inhibitors mitigate DM-related microvascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy. However, the mechanism by which pathological retinal neovascularization, a major clinical manifestation of diabetic retinopathy, is inhibited is unclear. This study sought to examine the effects of evogliptin, a potent DPP-4 inhibitor, on pathological retinal neovascularization in mice and elucidate the mechanism by which evogliptin inhibits angiogenesis mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key factor in the vascular pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In a murine model of PDR, an intravitreal injection of evogliptin significantly suppressed aberrant retinal neovascularization. In human endothelial cells, evogliptin reduced VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Western blot analysis showed that evogliptin inhibited the phosphorylation of signaling molecules associated with VEGF-induced cell adhesion and migration. Moreover, evogliptin substantially inhibited the VEGF-induced activation of adenosine 5'-diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6), a small guanosine 5'-triphosphatase (GTPase) that regulates VEGF receptor 2 signal transduction. Direct activation of Arf6 using a chemical inhibitor of Arf-directed GTPase-activating protein completely abrogated the inhibitory effect of evogliptin on VEGF-induced activation of the angiogenic signaling pathway, which suggests that evogliptin suppresses VEGF-induced angiogenesis by blocking Arf6 activation. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanism of the direct inhibitory effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor evogliptin on pathological retinal neovascularization. In addition to its glucose-lowering effect, the antiangiogenic effect of evogliptin could also render it beneficial for individuals with PDR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / genetics
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / metabolism*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Retinal Neovascularization / drug therapy
  • Retinal Neovascularization / etiology
  • Retinal Neovascularization / metabolism*
  • Retinal Neovascularization / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*

Substances

  • 4-(3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoyl)-3-(tert-butoxymethyl)piperazin-2-one
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • ARF6 protein, human
  • Arf6 protein, mouse