Protective Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 on Endothelial Function in Hypertension

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2015 May;65(5):399-405. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000176.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial cells play a major role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by reduced endothelium-dependent relaxations or accompanied by enhanced endothelium-dependent contractions, is a hallmark of and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Endothelial dysfunction in hypertension has been linked to decreases in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, reflecting the impaired generation of NO and/or the enhanced inactivation of NO by reactive oxygen species. Many of these conditions can be improved by glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a proglucagon-derived hormone secreted by intestinal endocrine L-type cells, which is rapidly inactivated by an enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 4 in circulation. On one hand, GLP-1 analogues or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors upregulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and increase endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation, resulting in improved production of NO and thus endothelium-dependent relaxations. On the other hand, GLP-1 and related agents attenuate endothelium-dependent contractions by reducing reactive oxygen species generation and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. GLP-1 elevating agents and GLP-1 receptor agonists improve endothelial function in hypertension, suggesting that GLP-1 signaling could be a therapeutic target in hypertension-related vascular events.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / analogs & derivatives
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Cyclooxygenase 2