Mechanisms of antidiabetic drugs and cholesterol efflux: A clinical perspective

Ali Ahmadi; Mariam Bagheri Ekta; Amirhossein Sahebkar

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.006

Mechanisms of antidiabetic drugs and cholesterol efflux: A clinical perspective

Drug Discov Today. 2022 Jun;27(6):1679-1688. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.006. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Authors

Ali Ahmadi¹, Mariam Bagheri Ekta², Amirhossein Sahebkar³

Affiliations

¹ School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948567, Iran.
² Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology of Cardiovascular System, A.P. Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russian Federation.
³ Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: sahebkara@mums.ac.ir.

PMID: 35182734
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.006

Abstract

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a physiological process that reduces excess cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol efflux (CE), an important step in RCT, is mainly mediated by ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and G1 and has a significant role in atheroprotection. Moreover, impairments in CE can lead to the development of diabetes and fatty liver disease. In this review, we summarize the possible effects of hypoglycemic agents on CE and how this might influence atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia-related pathologies. Newer antidiabetic agents could have significant potential for targeting CE and preventing or alleviating atherosclerosis, obesity, and liver steatosis, and simultaneously improving insulin secretion. However, more research is warranted to interpret the clinical relevance of these data.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cholesterol efflux, reverse cholesterol transport; Diabetes; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
Atherosclerosis*
Biological Transport
Cholesterol
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents* / pharmacology
Hypoglycemic Agents* / therapeutic use

Substances

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
Hypoglycemic Agents
Cholesterol