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Sarkar A, Fanous KI, Marei I, Ding H, Ladjimi M, MacDonald R, Hollenberg MD, Anderson TJ, Hill MA, Triggle CR. Repurposing Metformin for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: Current Insights. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2024; 20:255-288. [PMID: 38919471 PMCID: PMC11198029 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s391808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin is an orally effective anti-hyperglycemic drug that despite being introduced over 60 years ago is still utilized by an estimated 120 to 150 million people worldwide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Metformin is used off-label for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and for pre-diabetes and weight loss. Metformin is a safe, inexpensive drug with side effects mostly limited to gastrointestinal issues. Prospective clinical data from the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), completed in 1998, demonstrated that metformin not only has excellent therapeutic efficacy as an anti-diabetes drug but also that good glycemic control reduced the risk of micro- and macro-vascular complications, especially in obese patients and thereby reduced the risk of diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Based on a long history of clinical use and an excellent safety record metformin has been investigated to be repurposed for numerous other diseases including as an anti-aging agent, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, cancer, COVID-19 and also atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most frequently diagnosed cardiac arrythmia and its prevalence is increasing globally as the population ages. The argument for repurposing metformin for AF is based on a combination of retrospective clinical data and in vivo and in vitro pre-clinical laboratory studies. In this review, we critically evaluate the evidence that metformin has cardioprotective actions and assess whether the clinical and pre-clinical evidence support the use of metformin to reduce the risk and treat AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparajita Sarkar
- Department of Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kareem Imad Fanous
- Department of Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Isra Marei
- Department of Pharmacology & Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine- Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hong Ding
- Department of Pharmacology & Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine- Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Moncef Ladjimi
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ross MacDonald
- Health Sciences Library, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Morley D Hollenberg
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, and Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Todd J Anderson
- Department of Cardiac Sciences and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael A Hill
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center & Department of Medical Pharmacology & Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Chris R Triggle
- Department of Pharmacology & Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine- Qatar, Doha, Qatar
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Zhong J, Chen H, Liu Q, Zhou S, Liu Z, Xiao Y. GLP-1 receptor agonists and myocardial metabolism in atrial fibrillation. J Pharm Anal 2024; 14:100917. [PMID: 38799233 PMCID: PMC11127228 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Many medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and heart failure (HF), increase the risk for AF. Cardiomyocytes have unique metabolic characteristics to maintain adenosine triphosphate production. Significant changes occur in myocardial metabolism in AF. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been used to control blood glucose fluctuations and weight in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. GLP-1RAs have also been shown to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, autonomic nervous system modulation, and mitochondrial function. This article reviews the changes in metabolic characteristics in cardiomyocytes in AF. Although the clinical trial outcomes are unsatisfactory, the findings demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs can improve myocardial metabolism in the presence of various risk factors, lowering the incidence of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Zhong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Hang Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Qiming Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Shenghua Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Zhenguo Liu
- Center for Precision Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Yichao Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
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Neumann J, Hofmann B, Dhein S, Gergs U. Glucagon and Its Receptors in the Mammalian Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12829. [PMID: 37629010 PMCID: PMC10454195 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucagon exerts effects on the mammalian heart. These effects include alterations in the force of contraction, beating rate, and changes in the cardiac conduction system axis. The cardiac effects of glucagon vary according to species, region, age, and concomitant disease. Depending on the species and region studied, the contractile effects of glucagon can be robust, modest, or even absent. Glucagon is detected in the mammalian heart and might act with an autocrine or paracrine effect on the cardiac glucagon receptors. The glucagon levels in the blood and glucagon receptor levels in the heart can change with disease or simultaneous drug application. Glucagon might signal via the glucagon receptors but, albeit less potently, glucagon might also signal via glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptors (GLP1-receptors). Glucagon receptors signal in a species- and region-dependent fashion. Small molecules or antibodies act as antagonists to glucagon receptors, which may become an additional treatment option for diabetes mellitus. Hence, a novel review of the role of glucagon and the glucagon receptors in the mammalian heart, with an eye on the mouse and human heart, appears relevant. Mouse hearts are addressed here because they can be easily genetically modified to generate mice that may serve as models for better studying the human glucagon receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Neumann
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 4, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Britt Hofmann
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Mid-German Heart Center, University Hospital Halle, Ernst Grube Straße 40, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Stefan Dhein
- Rudolf-Boehm Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Ulrich Gergs
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 4, D-06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
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Stoll L, Lo JC. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, the Holy Grail Preventing Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With T2D? JACC Basic Transl Sci 2023; 8:937-938. [PMID: 37719426 PMCID: PMC10504427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Stoll
- Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - James C. Lo
- Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Scheen AJ. Antidiabetic agents and risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter: A comparative critical analysis with a focus on differences between SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. DIABETES & METABOLISM 2022; 48:101390. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2022.101390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
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