A comparison of lipid and glycemic effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia

PPAR agonists as add-on treatment with metformin in management of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The combination of metformin and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) agonists offers a promising avenue for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) through their potential complementary mechanisms of action. The results from randomized controlled trials (RCT) assessing the efficacy of PPAR agonists plus metformin versus metformin alone in T2D are inconsistent, which prompted the conduct of the systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception (1966) to March 2023 to identify all RCTs comparing any PPAR agonists plus metformin versus metformin alone in T2D. Categorical variables were summarized as relative risk along with 95% confidence interval (CI). Twenty RCTs enrolling a total of 6058 patients met the inclusion criteria. The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to very low. Pooled results show that using PPAR agonist plus metformin, as compared to metformin alone, results in lower concentrations of fasting glucose [MD = - 22.07 mg/dl (95% CI - 27.17, - 16.97), HbA1c [MD = - 0.53% (95% CI - 0.67, - 0.38)], HOMA-IR [MD = - 1.26 (95% CI - 2.16, - 0.37)], and fasting insulin [MD = - 19.83 pmol/L (95% CI - 29.54, - 10.13)] without significant increase in any adverse events. Thus, synthesized evidence from RCTs demonstrates the beneficial effects of PPAR agonist add-on treatment versus metformin alone in T2D patients. In particular, novel dual PPARα/γ agonist (tesaglitazar) demonstrate efficacy in improving glycaemic and lipid concentrations, so further RCTs should be performed to elucidate the long-term outcomes and safety profile of these novel combined and personalized therapeutic strategies in the management of T2D.PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023412603.

Metabolite profiles of diabetes mellitus and response to intervention in anti-hyperglycemic drugs

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a major health problem, threatening the quality of life of nearly 500 million patients worldwide. As a typical multifactorial metabolic disease, T2DM involves the changes and interactions of various metabolic pathways such as carbohydrates, amino acid, and lipids. It has been suggested that metabolites are not only the endpoints of upstream biochemical processes, but also play a critical role as regulators of disease progression. For example, excess free fatty acids can lead to reduced glucose utilization in skeletal muscle and induce insulin resistance; metabolism disorder of branched-chain amino acids contributes to the accumulation of toxic metabolic intermediates, and promotes the dysfunction of β-cell mitochondria, stress signal transduction, and apoptosis. In this paper, we discuss the role of metabolites in the pathogenesis of T2DM and their potential as biomarkers. Finally, we list the effects of anti-hyperglycemic drugs on serum/plasma metabolic profiles.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α in Lipoprotein Metabolism and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of ligand-binding transcription factors with pivotal action in regulating pleiotropic signaling pathways of energetic metabolism, immune responses and cell proliferation and differentiation. A significant body of evidence indicates that the PPARα receptor is an important modulator of plasma lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, with pluripotent effects influencing the lipid and apolipoprotein cargo of both atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins and their functionality. Clinical evidence supports an important role of PPARα agonists (fibric acid derivatives) in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and/or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, although the effects of clinical trials are contradictory and point to a reduction in the risk of nonfatal and fatal myocardial infarction events. In this manuscript, we provide an up-to-date critical review of the existing relevant literature.

New-onset dyslipidemia in adult cancer survivors from medically underserved areas: a 10-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cancer survival rates are increasing; however, studies on dyslipidemia as a comorbidity of cancer are limited. For efficient management of the disease burden, this study aimed to understand new-onset dyslipidemia in medically underserved areas (MUA) among cancer survivors > 19 years.

METHODS

This study used 11-year (2009-2019) data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service sample cohort. Cancer survivors for five years or more (diagnosed with ICD-10 codes 'C00-C97') > 19 years were matched for sex, age, cancer type, and survival years using a 1:1 ratio with propensity scores. New-onset dyslipidemia outpatients based on MUA were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Of the 5,736 cancer survivors included in the study, the number of new-onset dyslipidemia patients was 855 in MUA and 781 in non-MUA. Cancer survivors for five years or more from MUA had a 1.22-fold higher risk of onset of dyslipidemia (95% CI = 1.10-1.34) than patients from non-MUA. The prominent factors for the risk of dyslipidemia in MUA include women, age ≥ 80 years, high income, disability, complications, and fifth-year cancer survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer survivors for five years or more from MUA had a higher risk of new-onset dyslipidemia than those from non-MUA. Thus, cancer survivors for five years or more living in MUA require healthcare to prevent and alleviate dyslipidemia.

Thiazolidinedione Use Is Associated with a Borderline Lower Risk of Multiple Myeloma and a Significantly Lower Risk of Death in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) exerts anti-proliferative effects on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. However, there has not been any human study investigating the risk of MM associated with TZD use.

METHODS

We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance database to identify 423,949 patients who had been newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus between 1999 and 2005. After excluding ineligible patients, 86,999 pairs of patients with and without the use of TZD (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) that had been matched based on propensity score were selected for a follow-up for MM until 31 December 2011. The hazard ratios for MM were estimated using Cox regression and weighted using a propensity score.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 4.6 years and 4.7 years in ever users and never users of TZD, 32 and 47 cases were diagnosed with MM, respectively. A 35% lower risk (though not statistically significant) was observed among ever users (hazard ratio 0.652, 95% confidence interval: 0.416-1.023, p = 0.0625). When ever users were divided by the median (15 months) cumulative duration of TZD therapy, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the lower and upper medians were 0.706 (0.394-1.264) and 0.603 (0.346-1.051), respectively. When treated as a continuous variable, the hazard ratio for every 1-month increment of the cumulative duration was 0.980 (95% confidence interval: 0.963-0.997, p = 0.0185). In the age subgroup analysis, a significantly lower risk could be seen in the older age subgroup of ≥65 years (hazard ratio 0.550, 95% confidence interval: 0.305-0.992, p = 0.0468). Additional analyses suggested that there were no interactions between TZD and some medications and between TZD and some clinical diagnoses, and that the use of TZD as a preventive drug for MM might not be cost-effective because a number-needed-to-treat of 5800 was too large. Survival analyses suggested that ever users had a significantly lower risk of death when all patients were analyzed (hazard ratio: 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.81-0.87, p < 0.0001 via a log-rank test) or when patients who developed MM were analyzed (hazard ratio: 0.40, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.86, p = 0.0153 via a log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

In Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, TZD use is associated with a borderline lower risk of MM, which is more remarkable in patients aged ≥65 years. Because of the low incidence of MM, the use of TZD for the prevention of MM may not be cost-effective. Patients who have been treated with TZD may have a survival advantage. Future research is required to confirm the findings.

Rosiglitazone has a null association with the risk of prostate cancer in type 2 diabetes patients

Background

This study investigated the risk of prostate cancer in ever users and never users of rosiglitazone in diabetes patients in Taiwan.

Methods

The nationwide database of the National Health Insurance was used to enroll male patients who had a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus at an age ≥ 25 years from 1999 to 2005. A total of 11,495 ever users and 11,495 never users of rosiglitazone matched on propensity score were selected and they were followed up for the incidence of prostate cancer from January 1, 2006 until December 31, 2011. Cox proportional hazard model incorporated with the inverse probability of treatment weighting using the propensity score was used to estimate hazard ratios.

Results

At the end of follow-up, incident cases of prostate cancer were found in 84 never users and 90 ever users of rosiglitazone. The calculated incidence was 173.20 per 100,000 person-years in never users and was 187.59 per 100,000 person-years in ever users. The overall hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ever versus never users was 1.089 (0.808-1.466). The hazard ratios were 0.999 (0.643-1.552) for the first tertile (< 672 mg), 1.147 (0.770-1.709) for the second tertile (672-3584 mg) and 1.116 (0.735-1.695) for the third tertile (> 3584 mg) of cumulative dose. Sensitivity analyses consistently showed a null association between rosiglitazone and prostate cancer risk.

Conclusion

Rosiglitazone has a null effect on the risk of prostate cancer.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors as targets to treat metabolic diseases: Focus on the adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas

The world is experiencing reflections of the intersection of two pandemics: Obesity and coronavirus disease 2019. The prevalence of obesity has tripled since 1975 worldwide, representing substantial public health costs due to its comorbidities. The adipose tissue is the initial site of obesity impairments. During excessive energy intake, it undergoes hyperplasia and hypertrophy until overt inflammation and insulin resistance turn adipocytes into dysfunctional cells that send lipotoxic signals to other organs. The pancreas is one of the organs most affected by obesity. Once lipotoxicity becomes chronic, there is an increase in insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells, a surrogate for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These alterations threaten the survival of the pancreatic islets, which tend to become dysfunctional, reaching exhaustion in the long term. As for the liver, lipotoxicity favors lipogenesis and impairs beta-oxidation, resulting in hepatic steatosis. This silent disease affects around 30% of the worldwide population and can evolve into end-stage liver disease. Although therapy for hepatic steatosis remains to be defined, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) activation copes with T2DM management. Peroxisome PPARs are transcription factors found at the intersection of several metabolic pathways, leading to insulin resistance relief, improved thermogenesis, and expressive hepatic steatosis mitigation by increasing mitochondrial beta-oxidation. This review aimed to update the potential of PPAR agonists as targets to treat metabolic diseases, focusing on adipose tissue plasticity and hepatic and pancreatic remodeling.

Encapsulation of Pioglitazone into Polymer-Nanoparticles for Potential Treatment of Atherosclerotic Diseases

Atherosclerosis is one of the most urgent global health subjects, causes millions of deaths worldwide, and is associated with enormous healthcare costs. Macrophages are the root cause for inflammatory onset and progression of the disease but are not addressed by conventional therapy. Therefore, we used pioglitazone, which is a drug initially used for diabetes therapies, but at the same time has great potential regarding the mitigation of inflammation. As yet, this potential of pioglitazone cannot be exploited, as drug concentrations at the target site in vivo are not sufficient. To overcome this shortcoming, we established PEG-PLA/PLGA-based nanoparticles loaded with pioglitazone and tested them in vitro. Encapsulation of the drug was analyzed by HPLC and revealed an outstanding encapsulation efficiency of 59% into the nanoparticles, which were 85 nm in size and had a PDI of 0.17. Further, uptake of our loaded nanoparticles in THP-1 macrophages was comparable to the uptake of unloaded nanoparticles. On the mRNA level, pioglitazone-loaded nanoparticles were superior to the free drug by 32% in increasing the expression of the targeted receptor PPAR-γ. Thereby the inflammatory response in macrophages was ameliorated. In this study, we take the first step toward an anti-inflammatory, causal antiatherosclerotic therapy, using the potential of the already established drug pioglitazone, and enable it to enrich at the target site by using nanoparticles. An additional crucial feature of our nanoparticle platform is the versatile modifiability of ligands and ligand density, to achieve an optimal active targeting effect in the future.

Rosiglitazone Does Not Affect the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwanese Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Human studies on the effect of rosiglitazone on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are still lacking. We investigated whether rosiglitazone might affect IBD risk by using the reimbursement database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance to enroll a propensity-score-matched cohort of ever users and never users of rosiglitazone. The patients should have been newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus between 1999 and 2006 and should have been alive on 1 January 2007. We then started to follow the patients from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2011 for a new diagnosis of IBD. Propensity-score-weighted hazard ratios were estimated with regards to rosiglitazone exposure in terms of ever users versus never users and in terms of cumulative duration and cumulative dose of rosiglitazone therapy for dose-response analyses. The joint effects and interactions between rosiglitazone and risk factors of psoriasis/arthropathies, dorsopathies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/tobacco abuse and the use of metformin were estimated by Cox regression after adjustment for all covariates. A total of 6226 ever users and 6226 never users were identified and the respective numbers of incident IBD were 95 and 111. When we compared the risk of IBD in ever users to that of the never users, the estimated hazard ratio (0.870, 95% confidence interval: 0.661-1.144) was not statistically significant. When cumulative duration and cumulative dose of rosiglitazone therapy were categorized by tertiles and hazard ratios were estimated by comparing the tertiles of rosiglitazone exposure to the never users, none of the hazard ratios reached statistical significance. In secondary analyses, rosiglitazone has a null association with Crohn's disease, but a potential benefit on ulcerative colitis (UC) could not be excluded. However, because of the low incidence of UC, we were not able to perform detailed dose-response analyses for UC. In the joint effect analyses, only the subgroup of psoriasis/arthropathies (-)/rosiglitazone (-) showed a significantly lower risk in comparison to the subgroup of psoriasis/arthropathies (+)/rosiglitazone (-). No interactions between rosiglitazone and the major risk factors or metformin use were observed. We concluded that rosiglitazone has a null effect on the risk of IBD, but the potential benefit on UC awaits further investigation.

Polymer-Based Nanostructures for Pancreatic Beta-Cell Imaging and Non-Invasive Treatment of Diabetes

Diabetes poses major economic, social, and public health challenges in all countries worldwide. Besides cardiovascular disease and microangiopathy, diabetes is a leading cause of foot ulcers and lower limb amputations. With the continued rise of diabetes prevalence, it is expected that the future burden of diabetes complications, early mortality, and disabilities will increase. The diabetes epidemic is partly caused by the current lack of clinical imaging diagnostic tools, the timely monitoring of insulin secretion and insulin-expressing cell mass (beta (β)-cells), and the lack of patients' adherence to treatment, because some drugs are not tolerated or invasively administrated. In addition to this, there is a lack of efficient topical treatment capable of stopping the progression of disabilities, in particular for treating foot ulcers. In this context, polymer-based nanostructures garnered significant interest due to their tunable physicochemical characteristics, rich diversity, and biocompatibility. This review article emphasizes the last advances and discusses the prospects in the use of polymeric materials as nanocarriers for β-cell imaging and non-invasive drug delivery of insulin and antidiabetic drugs in the management of blood glucose and foot ulcers.

Multi-Target Neuroprotection of Thiazolidinediones on Alzheimer's Disease via Neuroinflammation and Ferroptosis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in older age. The prevalence of AD is growing worldwide, causing a tremendous burden to societies and families. Due to the complexity of its pathogenesis, the current treatment of AD is not satisfactory, and drugs acting on a single target may not prevent AD progression. This review summarizes the multi-target pharmacological effects of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on AD. TZDs act as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase family member 4 (ACSL4) inhibitors. TZDs ameliorated neuroinflammation and ferroptosis in preclinical models of AD. Here, we discussed recent findings from clinical trials of pioglitazone in the treatment of AD, ischemic stroke, and atherosclerosis. We also dissected the major limitations in the clinical application of pioglitazone and explained the potential benefit of pioglitazone in AD. We recommend the use of pioglitazone to prevent cognitive decline and lower AD risk in a specific group of patients.

Obesity-Associated Dyslipidemia Is Moderated by Habitual Intake of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Yup'ik Alaska Native People: A Cross-Sectional Mediation-Moderation Analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity leads to insulin resistance, altered lipoprotein metabolism, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. The relationship between long-term intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and prevention of cardiometabolic disease remains unresolved.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore direct and indirect pathways between adiposity and dyslipidemia, and the degree to which n-3 PUFAs moderate adiposity-induced dyslipidemia in a population with highly variable n-3 PUFA intake from marine foods.

METHODS

In total, 571 Yup'ik Alaska Native adults (18-87 y) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The red blood cell (RBC) nitrogen isotope ratio (15N/14N, or NIR) was used as a validated objective measure of n-3 PUFA intake. EPA and DHA were measured in RBCs. Insulin sensitivity and resistance were estimated by the HOMA2 method. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the contribution of the indirect causal path between adiposity and dyslipidemia mediated through insulin resistance. Moderation analysis was used to assess the influence of dietary n-3 PUFAs on the direct and indirect paths between adiposity and dyslipidemia. Outcomes of primary interest included plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, and triglycerides (TG).

RESULTS

In this Yup'ik study population, we found that up to 21.6% of the total effects of adiposity on plasma TG, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C are mediated through measures of insulin resistance or sensitivity. Moreover, RBC DHA and EPA moderated the positive association between waist circumference (WC) and TC or non-HDL-C, whereas only DHA moderated the positive association between WC and TG. However, the indirect path between WC and plasma lipids was not significantly moderated by dietary n-3 PUFAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Intake of n-3 PUFAs may independently reduce dyslipidemia through the direct path resulting from excess adiposity in Yup'ik adults. NIR moderation effects suggest that additional nutrients contained in n-3 PUFA-rich foods may also reduce dyslipidemia.

The interplay between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Therapeutic approaches that lower circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol significantly reduced the burden of cardiovascular disease over the last decades. However, the persistent rise in the obesity epidemic is beginning to reverse this decline. Alongside obesity, the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has substantially increased in the last three decades. Currently, approximately one third of world population is affected by NAFLD. Notably, the presence of NAFLD and particularly its more severe form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), serves as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), thus, raising interest in the relationship between these two diseases. Importantly, ASCVD is the major cause of death in patients with NASH independent of traditional risk factors. Nevertheless, the pathophysiology linking NAFLD/NASH with ASCVD remains poorly understood. While dyslipidemia is a common risk factor underlying both diseases, therapies that lower circulating LDL-cholesterol are largely ineffective against NASH. While there are no approved pharmacological therapies for NASH, some of the most advanced drug candidates exacerbate atherogenic dyslipidemia, raising concerns regarding their adverse cardiovascular consequences. In this review, we address current gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms linking NAFLD/NASH and ASCVD, explore strategies to simultaneously model these diseases, evaluate emerging biomarkers that may be useful to diagnose the presence of both diseases, and discuss investigational approaches and ongoing clinical trials that potentially target both diseases.

An Update on the Current and Emerging Use of Thiazolidinediones for Type 2 Diabetes

Guidelines have increasingly stressed the concept that adequate glycemic control is required to prevent or decrease the macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PPAR-gamma agonists (“glitazones”) are no longer prioritized due to their effects on heart failure. However, the association between these drugs and innovative therapies could be a valuable tool to attenuate the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Glitazones are used for the treatment of diabetes and associated comorbidities. There is substantial scientific evidence demonstrating the effect of glitazones at a cardiometabolic level, as well as on hematological and neurological pathologies that point to their usefulness. The use of glitazones has always been controversial both for the type of patients who must take these drugs and for the side effects associated with them. Unfortunately, the recent guidelines do not include them among the preferred drugs for the treatment of hyperglycemia and rosiglitazone is out of the market in many countries due to an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Even though real-life studies have proven otherwise, and their pleiotropic effects have been highlighted, they have been unable to achieve primacy in the choice of antihyperglycemic drugs. It would be appropriate to demonstrate the usefulness of pioglitazone and its therapeutic benefit with further cardiovascular safety studies.

Comparison of Efficacy of Glimepiride, Alogliptin, and Alogliptin-Pioglitazone as the Initial Periods of Therapy in Patients with Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

The choice of an optimal oral hypoglycemic agent in the initial treatment periods for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients remains difficult and deliberate. We compared the efficacy and safety of glimepiride (GLIM), alogliptin (ALO), and alogliptin-pioglitazone (ALO-PIO) in poorly controlled T2DM patients with drug-naïve or metformin failure.

METHODS

In this three-arm, multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled trial, poorly controlled T2DM patients were randomized to receive GLIM (n=35), ALO (n=31), or ALO-PIO (n=33) therapy for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in the mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at week 24 from baseline. Secondary endpoints were changes in HbA1c level at week 12 from baseline, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, lipid profiles at weeks 12 and 24, and parameters of glycemic variability, assessed by continuous glucose monitoring for 24 weeks.

RESULTS

At weeks 12 and 24, the ALO-PIO group showed significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to the ALO group (-0.96%±0.17% vs. -0.37%±0.17% at week 12; -1.13%±0.19% vs. -0.18%±0.2% at week 24). The ALO-PIO therapy caused greater reduction in FPG levels and significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at weeks 12 and 24 than the ALO therapy. Compared to low-dose GLIM therapy, ALO-PIO therapy showed greater improvement in glycemic variability. The adverse events were similar among the three arms.

CONCLUSION

ALO-PIO combination therapy during the early period exerts better glycemic control than ALO monotherapy and excellency in glycemic variability than low-dose sulfonylurea therapy in uncontrolled, drug-naïve or metformin failed T2DM patients.

Exploring the plant-derived bioactive substances as antidiabetic agent: An extensive review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome. Diabetes has become more common in recent years. Chemically generated drugs are used to lessen the effects of DM and its following repercussions due to unpleasant side effects such as weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, and heart failure. On the other hand, medicinal plants could be a good source of anti-diabetic medications. This article aims to determine any plant matrix's positive potential. Food restriction, physical activity, and the use of antidiabetic plant-derived chemicals are all being promoted as effective ways to manage diabetes because they are less expensive and have fewer or no side effects. This review focuses on antidiabetic plants, along with their bioactive constituent, chemically characterization, and plant-based diets for diabetes management. There is minimal scientific data about the mechanism of action of the plant-based product has been found. The purpose of this article is to highlight anti-diabetic plants and plant-derived bioactive compounds that have anti-diabetic properties. It also provides researchers with data that may be used to build future strategies, such as identifying promising bioactive molecules to make diabetes management easier.

Daily Intraperitoneal Administration of Rosiglitazone Does Not Improve Lung Function or Alveolarization in Preterm Rabbits Exposed to Hyperoxia

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are potent PPARγ agonists that have been shown to attenuate alveolar simplification after prolonged hyperoxia in term rodent models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, the pulmonary outcomes of postnatal TZDs have not been investigated in preterm animal models. Here, we first investigated the PPARγ selectivity, epithelial permeability, and lung tissue binding of three types of TZDs in vitro (rosiglitazone (RGZ), pioglitazone, and DRF-2546), followed by an in vivo study in preterm rabbits exposed to hyperoxia (95% oxygen) to investigate the pharmacokinetics and the pulmonary outcomes of daily RGZ administration. In addition, blood lipids and a comparative lung proteomics analysis were also performed on Day 7. All TZDs showed high epithelial permeability through Caco-2 monolayers and high plasma and lung tissue binding; however, RGZ showed the highest affinity for PPARγ. The pharmacokinetic profiling of RGZ (1 mg/kg) revealed an equivalent biodistribution after either intratracheal or intraperitoneal administration, with detectable levels in lungs and plasma after 24 h. However, daily RGZ doses of 1 mg/kg did not improve lung function in preterm rabbits exposed to hyperoxia, and daily 10 mg/kg doses were even associated with a significant lung function worsening, which could be partially explained by the upregulation of lung inflammation and lipid metabolism pathways revealed by the proteomic analysis. Notably, daily postnatal RGZ produced an aberrant modulation of serum lipids, particularly in rabbit pups treated with the 10 mg/kg dose. In conclusion, daily postnatal RGZ did not improve lung function and caused dyslipidemia in preterm rabbits exposed to hyperoxia.

Conjugated linoleic acid isomers induced dyslipidemia and lipoatrophy are exacerbated by rosiglitazone in ApoE null mice fed a Western diet

BACKGROUND: Insulin sensitizers have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, their non-negligible side effects have led to cardiovascular concerns and the withdrawal of a member, rosiglitazone. OBJECTIVE: We combined conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) with rosiglitazone to test for amelioration of side effects posed by rosiglitazone in vivo. METHODS: We utilized ApoE null mice fed with Western diet (WD) to test our hypothesis. Mice were fed WD, with or without CLA administration, for 12 weeks. CLA utilized in our study consisted of a 1:1 ratio of 95% pure c9,t11, and t10,c12 isomers at a concentration of 0.1% w/v in fat-free milk. Starting from Week 12, select mice received rosiglitazone. RESULTS: It was found that mice receiving CLA from Week 0 and rosiglitazone from Week 12 had the lowest body weight and exacerbated hepatomegaly. Although these mice had attenuated insulin resistance compared to mice receiving only Western diet, they display a marked increase in total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Mice receiving early CLA administration developed hyperleptinemia, which was not restored by rosiglitazone. CONCLUSION: Taken together, against the background of ApoE null genotype and WD feeding, simultaneous administration of 1:1 CLA and rosiglitazone led to dyslipidemic lipoatrophy.

Elucidating the estrogen-like effects and biocompatibility of the herbal components in the Qing' E formula

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Qing' E Formula (QEF) is a compound preparation that was originally recorded in the 'Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People's Welfare Pharmacy' during the Song Dynasty (10th century CE). It consists of four Chinese medicinal herbs, Eucommiae Cortex (Eucommia ulmoides), Psoraleae Fructus (Psoralea corylifolium), Juglandis Semen (Juglans regia), and Garlic Rhizoma. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), QEF has the ability to tonify the kidney and strengthen muscle and bone. According to the 'kidney governing bone' theory in TCM, QEF is also used to treat the symptoms of climacteric syndrome, especially osteoporosis caused by reduced production of estrogen during the perimenopausal period; however, the therapeutic roles of the individual components of the QEF and their compatibility within the formula has not been investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the compatibility mechanism and estrogen-like action properties of the four herbal components in the QEF was elucidated according to the organizing principle of Chinese medicine formulas using both in vitro and in vivo models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The estrogen-like effects of QEF and its herbal components were investigated in MCF7 and HEK293 cells as well as ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The estrogen-like effects of the QEF and its components were analyzed in vitro using Cell Counting Kit-8 and Luciferase reporter gene assays. In the in vivo studies, the blood plasma levels of hormones, lipids, neurotransmitters, aromatase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The histological morphologies of the target organs after exposure to QEF were investigated by HE staining and immunohistochemical methods. The expression levels of estrogen pathway-related proteins and genes in the OVX rats were measured by Western blotting and real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), respectively.

RESULTS

The in vitro results showed that the QEF, Eucommia (EC) and Psoralea (PF) promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and upregulated the expression of ERα, ERβ and pS2 genes in the MCF-7 cells. Notably, the QEF demonstrated the most active estrogen-like effects compared to the individual ingredients. The in vivo results showed that the QEF, EC, and PF increased the uterine coefficient, upregulated the expression of both ERs (ERα and ERβ) in the uterus, and increased blood serum hormone levels. QEF and its individual components ameliorated menopausal-derived lipid metabolism dysfunction, increased neurotransmitter production by stimulating the adrenal glands, enhanced the antioxidant activity in the serum by increasing the concentration of SOD, reversed ovariectomy-derived atrophy in the uterus, and reduced the weight gain associated with estrogen reduction in the OVX rats. The QEF also antagonize the loss of appetite of OVX animals caused by feeding Psoralea alone, which could explain the compatibility mechanism of Qing' E Formula with reducing toxicity and increasing efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

The estrogen-like effects of Eucommia and Psoralea were mainly mediated through activation of ERα and ERβ. The phytoestrogen components regulated hormone production and the expression of related proteins and genes, which indicated that these components exhibited estrogen-like therapeutic effects. However, the QEF showed the greatest estrogen-like effects compared to the individual components. Overall, this corroborated the therapeutic prowess of the QEF and clarified the pharmacodynamic interactions between the different components extracts in the QEF.

Covid 19 May Limit the Use of Anti-hyperglycemic Agents. Does it Call for the Development of New Anti-hyperglycemic Agents?

Diabetes mellitus has been identified as a major risk factor for developing severe COVID 19 complications. In this review article, the efforts were directed to provide insights and the possible extent to which some diabetic pharmacological interventions may exacerbate COVID 19 or may not be idyllic options for COVID 19 patients. Articles reviewed were identified using the Google scholar database, and search was done using the English language. Anti-hyperglycemic is associated with undesirable effects including episodes of hypoglycemia, diarrhea, lactic acidosis, and increased risks of cardiovascular and hepatic hazards. These undesirable effects associated with the anti-hyperglycemic agents possess a threat of developing severe COVID19 complications Therefore, this calls for more studies to understand the extent of the risks these agents possess in diabetic COVID 19 patients. Almost all the anti-hyperglycemic agents have the potential to worsen COVID 19, despite their class. COVID 19 may limit the options in terms of available anti-hyperglycemic agents which may not heighten the risk of developing severe COVID 19 complications. The research towards the discovery and development of new compounds and also new therapeutic targets for hyperglycemia should be encouraged and welcome.

An overview of alogliptin + pioglitazone for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive condition, and sequential additions of therapy are usually required to maintain glycemic control. The options for glucose lowering therapies have increased considerably in recent years. Fixed-dose combinations such as alogliptin with pioglitazone provide a convenient choice which can improve medication adherence.

AREAS COVERED

The authors performed a literature search to identify publications describing the efficacy and safety of alogliptin and pioglitazone when used separately and in combinations.

EXPERT OPINION

Pioglitazone activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma which improves insulin sensitivity and helps to preserve β-cell function with a durable improvement in glycemic control. Pioglitazone can retard the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce cardiovascular events, but it is associated with adverse events including weight gain, fluid retention, and increased risk of fractures. Alogliptin improves glycemic control and appears neutral in terms of cardiovascular events. It does not appear to increase the adverse events associated with pioglitazone and use of the combination may permit the use of lower doses of pioglitazone with reduced adverse effects. There are no cardiovascular outcome studies with the combination but the cardiovascular benefits of pioglitazone and additional glucose lowering effects of alogliptin provide a useful combination with convenient once daily dosing.

Chiglitazar monotherapy with sitagliptin as an active comparator in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial (CMAS)

Chiglitazar (Carfloglitazar) is a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist that has shown promising effects on glycemic control and lipid regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this randomized phase 3 trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of chiglitazar with sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes who had insufficient glycemic control despite a strict diet and exercise regimen. Eligible patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive chiglitazar 32 mg (n = 245), chiglitazar 48 mg (n = 246), or sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 248) once daily for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in glycosylated hemoglobin A_1C (HbA_1c) from baseline at week 24 with the non-inferiority of chiglitazar over sitagliptin. Both chiglitazar and sitagliptin significantly reduced HbA_1c at week 24 with values of -1.40%, -1.47%, and -1.39% for chiglitazar 32 mg, chiglitazar 48 mg, and sitagliptin 100 mg, respectively. Chiglitazar 32 and 48 mg were both non-inferior to sitagliptin 100 mg, with mean differences of -0.04% (95% confidential interval (CI) -0.22 to 0.15) and -0.08% (95% CI -0.27 to 0.10), respectively. Compared with sitagliptin, greater reduction in fasting and 2-h postprandial plasma glucose and fasting insulin was observed with chiglitazar. Overall adverse event rates were similar between the groups. A small increase in mild edema in the chiglitazar 48 mg group and slight weight gain in both chiglitazar groups were reported. The overall results demonstrated that chiglitazar possesses good efficacy and safety profile in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with lifestyle interventions, thereby providing adequate supporting evidence for using this PPAR pan-agonist as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes.

Environmental Factors Modifying HDL Functionality

BACKGROUND

Currently, it has been recognized that High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) functionality plays a much more essential role in protection from atherosclerosis than circulating HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels per se. Cholesterol efflux from macrophages to HDL, cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) has been shown to be a key metric of HDL functionality. Thus, quantitative assessment of CEC may be an important tool for the evaluation of HDL functionality, as improvement of HDL function may lead to a reduction of the risk for Cardiovascular disease (CVD).

INTRODUCTION

Although the cardioprotective action of HDLs is exerted mainly through their involvement in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway, HDLs also have important anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiaggregatory and anticoagulant properties that contribute to their favorable cardiovascular effects. Certain genetic, pathophysiologic, disease states and environmental conditions may influence the cardioprotective effects of HDL either by inducing modifications in lipidome and/or protein composition or in the enzymes responsible for HDL metabolism. On the other hand, certain healthy habits or pharmacologic interventions may actually favorably affect HDL functionality.

METHOD

The present review discusses the effects of environmental factors, including obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, various pharmacologic interventions, as well as aerobic exercise, on HDL functionality.

RESULT

Experimental and clinical studies or pharmacological interventions support the impact of these environmental factors in the modification of HDL functionality, although the mechanisms that are mediated are poorly understood.

CONCLUSION

Further research should be conducted to unreal the underlying mechanisms of these environmental factors and to identify new pharmacologic interventions, capable of enhancing CEC, improving HDL functionality and potentially improving cardiovascular risk.

Rethinking pioglitazone as a cardioprotective agent: a new perspective on an overlooked drug

Since 1985, the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone has been widely used as an insulin sensitizer drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although fluid retention was early recognized as a safety concern, data from clinical trials have not provided conclusive evidence for a benefit or a harm on cardiac function, leaving the question unanswered. We reviewed the available evidence encompassing both in vitro and in vivo studies in tissues, isolated organs, animals and humans, including the evidence generated by major clinical trials. Despite the increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure due to fluid retention, pioglitazone is consistently associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke both in primary and secondary prevention, without any proven direct harm on the myocardium. Moreover, it reduces atherosclerosis progression, in-stent restenosis after coronary stent implantation, progression rate from persistent to permanent atrial fibrillation, and reablation rate in diabetic patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation. In fact, human and animal studies consistently report direct beneficial effects on cardiomyocytes electrophysiology, energetic metabolism, ischemia–reperfusion injury, cardiac remodeling, neurohormonal activation, pulmonary circulation and biventricular systo-diastolic functions. The mechanisms involved may rely either on anti-remodeling properties (endothelium protective, inflammation-modulating, anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic properties) and/or on metabolic (adipose tissue metabolism, increased HDL cholesterol) and neurohormonal (renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system, and adiponectin) modulation of the cardiovascular system. With appropriate prescription and titration, pioglitazone remains a useful tool in the arsenal of the clinical diabetologist.

Cholesterol-Induced M4-Like Macrophages Recruit Neutrophils and Induce NETosis

The liver is the central organ for cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. The effects of dietary cholesterol on hepatic injury, mainly of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (OxLDL), are not fully understood. Here, we show that the degree of cholesterol oxidation had different impacts on the global gene expression of human M2-like macrophages, with highly oxidized LDL causing the most dramatic changes. M2-like macrophages and Kupffer cells undergo M4-like polarization, decreasing the expression of important markers, such as IL10, MRC1, and CD163. These cells also displayed functional changes, with reduced phagocytic capacity, increased neutrophil recruitment, and more effective neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induction. Our findings provide a link between LDL oxidation and modification of peripheral and liver macrophage function.

The Role of Lipid Sensing Nuclear Receptors (PPARs and LXR) and Metabolic Lipases in Obesity, Diabetes and NAFLD

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are metabolic disorders characterized by metabolic inflexibility with multiple pathological organ manifestations, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nuclear receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors with a multifaceted role in controlling many metabolic activities, such as regulation of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism and modulation of inflammatory genes. The activity of nuclear receptors is key in maintaining metabolic flexibility. Their activity depends on the availability of endogenous ligands, like fatty acids or oxysterols, and their derivatives produced by the catabolic action of metabolic lipases, most of which are under the control of nuclear receptors. For example, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is activated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and conversely releases fatty acids as ligands for PPARα, therefore, demonstrating the interdependency of nuclear receptors and lipases. The diverse biological functions and importance of nuclear receptors in metabolic syndrome and NAFLD has led to substantial effort to target them therapeutically. This review summarizes recent findings on the roles of lipases and selected nuclear receptors, PPARs, and liver X receptor (LXR) in obesity, diabetes, and NAFLD.

Atherosclerosis: Conventional intake of cardiovascular drugs versus delivery using nanotechnology - A new chance for causative therapy?

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in developed countries. The pathogenetic mechanism relies on a macrophage-based immune reaction to low density lipoprotein (LDL) deposition in blood vessels with dysfunctional endothelia. Thus, atherosclerosis is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease. A plethora of cardiovascular drugs have been developed and are on the market, but the major shortcoming of standard medications is that they do not address the root cause of the disease. Statins and thiazolidinediones that have recently been recognized to exert specific anti-atherosclerotic effects represent a potential breakthrough on the horizon. But their whole potential cannot be realized due to insufficient availability at the pathological site and severe off-target effects. The focus of this review will be to elaborate how both groups of drugs could immensely profit from nanoparticulate carriers. This delivery principle would allow for their accumulation in target macrophages and endothelial cells of the atherosclerotic plaque, increasing bioavailability where it is needed most. Based on the analyzed literature we conclude design criteria for the delivery of statins and thiazolidinediones with nanoparticles for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. Nanoparticles need to be below a diameter of 100 nm to accumulate in the atherosclerotic plaque and should be fabricated using biodegradable materials. Further, the thiazolidinediones or statins must be encapsulated into the particle core, because especially for thiazolidindiones the uptake into cells is prerequisite for their mechanism of action. For optimal uptake into targeted macrophages and endothelial cells, the ideal particle should present ligands on its surface which bind specifically to scavenger receptors. The impact of statins on the lectin-type oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX1) seems particularly promising because of its outstanding role in the inflammatory process. Using this pioneering concept, it will be possible to promote the impact of statins and thiazolidinediones on macrophages and endothelial cells and significantly enhance their anti-atherosclerotic therapeutic potential.

Prevalence and associated factors of uncontrolled hyperlipidemia among Thai patients with diabetes and clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study

Objectives

The research aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of uncontrolled hyperlipidemia among Thai patients with the disease and Clinical ASCVD.

Results

A total of 1,527 Thai diabetic patients with a history of ASCVD were included in the study. Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia was detected among 1,216 patients (79.6%; 95% CI 77.6–81.7). The independent factors associated with uncontrolled hyperlipidemia included being female (adjusted odds ratio (AORs); 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–2.0), using thiazolidinedione (AORs; 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.7), community hospital (AORs; 4.3, 95% CI 1.0–18.0) and BMI level at 18.5–22.9 kg/m² (AORs; 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.0), 23.0–24.9 kg/m² (AORs; 1.8 95% CI 0.9–3.3), 25.0–29.9 kg/m² (AORs; 2.3 95% CI 1.3–4.3) and ≥ 30 kg/m² (AORs; 2.5 95% CI 1.3–4.9).

Cardiovascular Safety and Benefits of Noninsulin Antihyperglycemic Drugs for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-Part 1

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). With T2DM growing in pandemic proportions, there will be profound healthcare implications of CVD in person with diabetes. The ideal drugs to improve outcomes in T2DM are those having antiglycemic efficacy in addition to cardiovascular (CV) safety, which has to be determined in appropriately designed CV outcome trials as mandated by regulatory agencies. Available evidence is largely supportive of metformin's CV safety and potential CVD risk reduction effects, whereas sulfonylureas are either CV risk neutral or are associated with variable CVD risk. Pioglitazone was also associated with improved CVD risk in patients with diabetes. The more recent antihyperglycemic medications have shown promise with regards to CVD risk reduction in T2DM patients at a high CV risk. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, a type of incretin-based therapy, were associated with better CV outcomes and mortality in T2DM patients, leading to the Food and Drug Administration approval of liraglutide to reduce CVD risk in high-risk T2DM patients. Ongoing and planned randomized controlled trials of the newer drugs should clarify the possibility of class effects, and of CVD risk reduction benefits in low-moderate CV risk patients. While metformin remains the first-line antiglycemic therapy in T2DM, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists should be appropriately prescribed in T2DM patients with baseline CVD or in those at a high CVD risk to improve CV outcomes. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are discussed in the second part of this review.

The Role of Dyslipidemia in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Dyslipidemia, characterized by metabolic abnormalities, has become an important participant in colorectal cancer (CRC). Dyslipidemia aggravates intestinal inflammation, destroys the protective mucous layer, and disrupts the balance between injury and recovery. On the other hand, antioxidants induced by oxidative stress enhance glycolysis to maintain the acquisition of ATP allowing epithelial cells with damaged genomes to survive. In the repetitive phase of colitis, survival factors enable these epithelial cells to continuously proliferate. The main purpose is to restore and rebuild damaged mucosa, mainly aiming to recover mucosal damage and reconstruct mucosa, but it is also implicated in the occurrence and malignancy of CRC. The metabolic reprogramming of aerobic glycolysis and lipid synthesis enables these transformed epithelial cells to convert raw carbohydrate and amino acid substrates, thereby synthesizing protein and phospholipid biomass. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase, responsible for the fatty acid desaturation, improves the fluidity and permeability of cell membranes, which is one of the key factors affecting metabolic rate. In response to available fat, tumor cells reprogram their metabolism to better plunder energy-rich lipids and rapidly scavenge these lipids through continuous proliferation. However, lipid metabolic disorders inhibit the function of immune-infiltrating cells in the tumor microenvironment through the cross-talk between tumor cells and immunosuppressive stromal cells, thereby providing opportunities for tumor progress. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and lipid-lowering drugs can decrease the formation of aberrant crypt foci, lower the burden of the adenomatous polyp, and reduce the incidence of CRC. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of dyslipidemia on tumorigenesis and tumor progression and a development prospect of lipid disorders on tumor immunity.

Thiazolidinediones were associated with higher risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis

BACKGROUND& AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management in patients with cirrhosis is complicated. No clinical trials have investigated appropriate antidiabetic drug use in these patients. This study compared the risks of all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and hepatic outcomes between patients with T2DM and cirrhosis using and not using thiazolidinedione (TZD).

METHODS

We selected 1,705 propensity score-matched TZD users and nonusers from a Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database cohort of T2DM patients with compensated cirrhosis between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012 and followed them until December 31, 2013. Cox proportional hazards models with robust sandwich standard error estimates were used to assess risks of investigated outcomes for TZD users.

RESULTS

MACE incidence rates during follow-up were 2.14 and 1.30 per 100 patient-years for TZD users and nonusers, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-2.19). On the basis of TZD use, the aHRs (95% CIs) for stroke, ischemic heart disease and heart failure were 1.81 (1.28-2.55), 1.59 (1.03-2.44) and 2.09 (1.22-3.60) respectively. Compared with TZD nonusers, rosiglitazone users had significantly higher aHR [1.67 (1.26-2.20)] and pioglitazone users had no significant difference of aHR [1.12 (0.90-1.64)]. All-cause mortality, hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensated cirrhosis and hepatic failure risks did not differ significantly between TZD users and nonusers.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with nonuser, TZD users demonstrated significantly higher MACE risks. Therefore, the risks of cardiovascular complications should be considered when prescribing TZDs to patients with T2DM and cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors

The increasing epidemic of obesity worldwide is linked to serious health effects, including increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and includes the spectrum of liver steatosis (known as nonalcoholic fatty liver) and steatohepatitis (known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), which can evolve into progressive liver fibrosis and eventually cause cirrhosis. Although NAFLD is becoming the number one cause of chronic liver diseases, it is part of a systemic disease that affects many other parts of the body, including adipose tissue, pancreatic β-cells and the cardiovascular system. The pathomechanism of NAFLD is multifactorial across a spectrum of metabolic derangements and changes in the host microbiome that trigger low-grade inflammation in the liver and other organs. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear regulatory factors that provide fine tuning for key elements of glucose and fat metabolism and regulate inflammatory cell activation and fibrotic processes. This Review summarizes and discusses the current literature on NAFLD as the liver manifestation of the systemic metabolic syndrome and focuses on the role of PPARs in the pathomechanisms as well as in the potential targeting of disease.

Nuclear hormone and peptide hormone therapeutics for NAFLD and NASH

Background

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a spectrum of histological liver pathologies ranging from hepatocyte fat accumulation, hepatocellular ballooning, lobular inflammation, and pericellular fibrosis. Based on early investigations, it was discovered that visceral fat accumulation, hepatic insulin resistance, and atherogenic dyslipidemia are pathological triggers for NASH progression. As these pathogenic features are common with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and atherosclerosis, therapies that target dysregulated core metabolic pathways may hold promise for treating NASH, particularly as first-line treatments.

Scope of Review

In this review, the latest clinical data on nuclear hormone- and peptide hormone-based drug candidates for NASH are reviewed and contextualized, culminating with a discovery research perspective on emerging combinatorial therapeutic approaches that merge nuclear and peptide strategies.

Major Conclusion

Several drug candidates targeting the metabolic complications of NASH have shown promise in early clinical trials, albeit with unique benefits and challenges, but questions remain regarding their translation to larger and longer clinical trials, as well as their utility in a more diseased patient population. Promising polypharmacological approaches can potentially overcome some of these perceived challenges, as has been suggested in preclinical models, but deeper characterizations are required to fully evaluate these opportunities.

•

Despite no approved treatments for NASH, several drug candidates have shown promise in early clinical trials.

•

Therapies targeting metabolic pathologies of NASH have shown efficacy to reduce hepatic fat content and improve fibrosis.

•

Many of these therapies have been rationally designed to mimic nuclear hormone or peptide hormone action.

•

Despite provocative preclinical findings of nuclear and peptide hormone combination, clinical translation remains unproven.

Effect of punicalagin on multiple targets in streptozotocin/high-fat diet-induced diabetic mice

Type 2 diabetes has a series of metabolic aberrations accompanied by chronic hyperglycemia, along with various comorbidities. In recent reports, punicalagin from pomegranate has been reported to exert hypoglycemic effects against diabetes. The goal of the current research was to investigate the therapeutic effectiveness and elucidate the mechanisms of punicalagin underlying type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection in C57BL/6J mice. Punicalagin was administered daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. The results indicated that high FBG (fasting blood glucose), dyslipidemia and associated islet, liver and kidney injury were observed in the model group mice. Through metabolomics analysis, it was found that the administration of punicalagin could regulate 24 potential biomarkers and their related metabolic pathways. Moreover, the pathological changes in the liver and kidney were mainly mediated by reducing gluconeogenesis and increasing glycogenesis via stimulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and regulation of the HMGB-1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which simultaneously interrelated to ten main pathological pathways. In addition, we confirmed the positive role of punicalagin in glucosamine-induced HepG2 cells and HG-induced HK-2 cells through related mechanistic studies in vitro. In conclusion, these findings suggested that the multi-effect and multi-target action mode of punicalagin had a significant hypoglycemic effect and a protective effect on diabetes mellitus. Punicalagin might serve as an alternative functional food or as a clinical supplemental therapy for the diabetic population to ameliorate metabolic syndrome.

Dysregulated lipid metabolism links NAFLD to cardiovascular disease

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming a global health problem. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most common cause of mortality in NAFLD patients. NAFLD and CVD share several common risk factors including obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by plasma hypertriglyceridemia, increased small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, is often observed in NAFLD patients.

Scope of review

In this review, we highlight recent epidemiological studies evaluating the link between NAFLD and CVD risk. We further focus on recent mechanistic insights into the links between NAFLD and altered lipoprotein metabolism. We also discuss current therapeutic strategies for NAFLD and their potential impact on NAFLD-associated CVD risk.

Major conclusions

Alterations in hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolism are major contributing factors to the increased CVD risk in NAFLD patients, and many promising NASH therapies in development also improve dyslipidemia in clinical trials.

miR-30a targets gene networks that promote browning of human and mouse adipocytes

MicroRNA-30a (miR-30a) impacts adipocyte function, and its expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) correlates with insulin sensitivity in obesity. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrates that miR-30a expression contributes to 2% of all miRNA expression in human tissues. However, molecular mechanisms of miR-30a function in fat cells remain unclear. Here, we expanded our understanding of how miR-30a expression contributes to antidiabetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist activity and metabolic functions in adipocytes. We found that WAT isolated from diabetic patients shows reduced miR-30a levels and diminished expression of the canonical PPARγ target genes ADIPOQ and FABP4 relative to lean counterparts. In human adipocytes, miR-30a required PPARγ for maximal expression, and the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone robustly induced miR-30a but not other miR-30 family members. Transcriptional activity studies in human adipocytes also revealed that ectopic expression of miR-30a enhanced the activity of rosiglitazone coupled with higher expression of fatty acid and glucose metabolism markers. Diabetic mice that overexpress ectopic miR-30a in subcutaneous WAT display durable reductions in serum glucose and insulin levels for more than 30 days. In agreement with our in vitro findings, RNA-seq coupled with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggested that miR-30a enabled activation of the beige fat program in vivo, as evidenced by enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and induction of UCP1 expression. Metabolomic and gene expression profiling established that the long-term effects of ectopic miR-30a expression enable accelerated glucose metabolism coupled with subcutaneous WAT hyperplasia. Together, we establish a putative role of miR-30a in mediating PPARγ activity and advancing metabolic programs of white to beige fat conversion.

Bioactive Compounds in Anti-Diabetic Plants: From Herbal Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery

Natural products, including organisms (plants, animals, or microorganisms) have been shown to possess health benefits for animals and humans. According to the estimation of the World Health Organization, in developing countries, 80% of the population has still depended on traditional medicines or folk medicines which are mostly prepared from the plant for prevention or treatment diseases. Traditional medicine from plant extracts has proved to be more affordable, clinically effective and relatively less adverse effects than modern drugs. Literature shows that the attention on the application of phytochemical constituents of medicinal plants in the pharmaceutical industry has increased significantly. Plant-derived secondary metabolites are small molecules or macromolecules biosynthesized in plants including steroids, alkaloids, phenolic, lignans, carbohydrates and glycosides, etc. that possess a diversity of biological properties beneficial to humans, such as their antiallergic, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease result of metabolic disorders in pancreas β-cells that have hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can be caused by a deficiency of insulin production by pancreatic (Type 1 diabetes mellitus) or insufficiency of insulin production in the face of insulin resistance (Type 2 diabetes mellitus). The current medications of diabetes mellitus focus on controlling and lowering blood glucose levels in the vessel to a normal level. However, most modern drugs have many side effects causing some serious medical problems during a period of treating. Therefore, traditional medicines have been used for a long time and play an important role as alternative medicines. Moreover, during the past few years, some of the new bioactive drugs isolated from plants showed antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than oral hypoglycemic agents used in clinical therapy. Traditional medicine performed a good clinical practice and is showing a bright future in the therapy of diabetes mellitus. World Health Organization has pointed out this prevention of diabetes and its complications is not only a major challenge for the future, but essential if health for all is to be attained. Therefore, this paper briefly reviews active compounds, and pharmacological effects of some popular plants which have been widely used in diabetic treatment. Morphological data from V-herb database of each species was also included for plant identification.

Review article: the impact of liver-directed therapies on the atherogenic risk profile in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of chronic liver disease, are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality. Therefore, it is important to understand how new therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may impact CVD risk factors in these patients.

AIMS

To summarise the effects of drug therapies on lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients with NASH and provide insight into the potential mechanisms for the observed changes.

METHODS

PubMed searches of the literature were performed and results were compiled.

RESULTS

Recent clinical trials have highlighted the safety and efficacy of drug candidates for the treatment of NASH. Several agents have shown improvements in the histological features of NASH and liver function. Pioglitazone, a drug that is currently available for type 2 diabetes and may be useful for NASH, exhibits beneficial effects on lipids. However, agents such as farnesoid X receptor agonists, which are in development for NASH, may adversely affect circulating lipids and lipoproteins.

CONCLUSIONS

NASH is a multi-system disease with a disproportionate CVD burden. Current and future drugs for NASH have had variable impact on the atherogenic risk profile. Potential co-administration of a statin may help mitigate the negative impact of some of these therapies on lipid and lipoprotein levels.

Effect of saroglitazar 2 mg and 4 mg on glycemic control, lipid profile and cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 56-week, randomized, double blind, phase 3 study (PRESS XII study)

BACKGROUND

The potential for PPAR agonists to positively affect risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is of persistent attention. The PRESS XII study primarily aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saroglitazar (2 mg and 4 mg) as compared to pioglitazone 30 mg on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

In this randomized double-blind study, patients with T2DM [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7.5%] were enrolled from 39 sites in India. Patients received once-daily doses of either saroglitazar or pioglitazone (1:1:1 allocation ratio) for a total of 24 weeks. Patients were continued in a double blind extension period for an additional 32 weeks. Efficacy evaluations of glycemic parameters [HbA1c (Primary endpoint at week 24), FPG and PPG] and other lipid parameters (TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, TC, Non HDL-C, Apo A1 and Apo B) were conducted at week 12, 24 and 56 and compared to the baseline levels. The efficacy analyses were performed by using paired t-test and ANCOVA model.

RESULTS

A total of 1155 patients were enrolled in this study. The baseline characteristics were similar between the three treatment groups. The within group mean (± SD) change in HbA1c (%) from baseline of the saroglitazar (2 mg and 4 mg) and pioglitazone treatment groups at week 24 were: - 1.38 ± 1.99 for saroglitazar 2 mg; - 1.47 ± 1.92 for saroglitazar 4 mg and - 1.41 ± 1.86 for pioglitazone, respectively. Statistically significant reduction from baseline in HbA1c was observed in each treatment group at week 24 with p-value < 0.016. There was a significant reduction in TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC and Non HDL-C with a significant increase in HDL-C from baseline levels (< 0.016). Most of the AE's were 'mild' to 'moderate' in severity and were resolved by the completion of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Saroglitazar effectively improved glycemic control and lipid parameters over 56 weeks in patients of T2DM receiving background metformin therapy and has a promising potential to reduce the cardiovascular risk in T2DM patients. Trial registration CTRI/2015/09/006203, dated 22/09/2015.

Insulin Resistance the Link between T2DM and CVD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Insulin resistance (IR) is a cardinal feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It also is associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities which are known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Thus, IR not only contributes to the development of hyperglycemia in T2DM patients, but also to the elevated CVD risk. Improving insulin sensitivity is anticipated to both lower the plasma glucose concentration and decrease CVD risk in T2DM patients, independent of glucose control. We review the molecular mechanisms and metabolic consequences of IR in T2DM patients and discuss the importance of addressing IR in the management of T2DM.

Pioglitazone for the Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Patients with or at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

The goal of the meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and renal adverse events in patients with or at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing pioglitazone with any control were identified through PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Cardiovascular outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs, defined as the composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death), hospitalization for heart failure, and all-cause mortality. Renal outcomes included change in urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and 24-hour urinary protein excretion. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled.

RESULTS

A total of 26 studies with 19 645 participants were enrolled. Pioglitazone reduced the risk of MACE (RR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.7-0.9]), with benefit only seen in patients with a history of established CVDs (0.8 [0.7-0.9]) and not in those without (1.0 [0.7-1.3]). Regarding the individual components, pioglitazone reduced the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (0.8 [0.6-1.0]) and nonfatal stroke (0.8 [0.7-0.9]), which was confined to patients with a history of established CVDs, whereas no treatment effect was found on cardiovascular death (1.0 [0.7-1.2]) regardless of the presence of established CVDs. Pioglitazone increased the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (1.3 [1.1-1.6]) and had no treatment effect on all-cause mortality (1.0 [0.8-1.1]). Pioglitazone reduced albuminuria by 18.5% (WMD 18.5% [95% CI, 21.1-16.0]), with a similar benefit in patients with different renal function categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Pioglitazone should be considered in patients with or at high risk of T2DM for the prevention of cardiovascular endpoints, especially in those with a history of established CVD who might benefit the most. Robust reductions in progression of renal disease are seen regardless of baseline renal function degree.

The risk of sudden cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmia with rosiglitazone versus pioglitazone: real-world evidence on thiazolidinedione safety

BACKGROUND

The low cost of thiazolidinediones makes them a potentially valuable therapeutic option for the > 300 million economically disadvantaged persons worldwide with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Differential selectivity of thiazolidinediones for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in the myocardium may lead to disparate arrhythmogenic effects. We examined real-world effects of thiazolidinediones on outpatient-originating sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA).

METHODS

We conducted population-based high-dimensional propensity score-matched cohort studies in five Medicaid programs (California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania | 1999-2012) and a commercial health insurance plan (Optum Clinformatics | 2000-2016). We defined exposure based on incident rosiglitazone or pioglitazone dispensings; the latter served as an active comparator. We controlled for confounding by matching exposure groups on propensity score, informed by baseline covariates identified via a data adaptive approach. We ascertained SCA/VA outcomes precipitating hospital presentation using a validated, diagnosis-based algorithm. We generated marginal hazard ratios (HRs) via Cox proportional hazards regression that accounted for clustering within matched pairs. We prespecified Medicaid and Optum findings as primary and secondary, respectively; the latter served as a conceptual replication dataset.

RESULTS

The adjusted HR for SCA/VA among rosiglitazone (vs. pioglitazone) users was 0.91 (0.75-1.10) in Medicaid and 0.88 (0.61-1.28) in Optum. Among Medicaid but not Optum enrollees, we found treatment effect heterogeneity by sex (adjusted HRs = 0.71 [0.54-0.93] and 1.16 [0.89-1.52] in men and women respectively, interaction term p-value = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone appear to be associated with similar risks of SCA/VA.

Adipose Tissue Distribution, Inflammation and Its Metabolic Consequences, Including Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Adipose tissue plays essential roles in maintaining lipid and glucose homeostasis. To date several types of adipose tissue have been identified, namely white, brown, and beige, that reside in various specific anatomical locations throughout the body. The cellular composition, secretome, and location of these adipose depots define their function in health and metabolic disease. In obesity, adipose tissue becomes dysfunctional, promoting a pro-inflammatory, hyperlipidemic and insulin resistant environment that contributes to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Concurrently, similar features that result from adipose tissue dysfunction also promote cardiovascular disease (CVD) by mechanisms that can be augmented by T2DM. The mechanisms by which dysfunctional adipose tissue simultaneously promote T2DM and CVD, focusing on adipose tissue depot-specific adipokines, inflammatory profiles, and metabolism, will be the focus of this review. The impact that various T2DM and CVD treatment strategies have on adipose tissue function and body weight also will be discussed.

High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Prevention: Finally Living Up to Their Potential?

Despite the widespread use of statins in the setting of high cardiovascular risk, many patients continue to experience clinical events. This highlights the need to identify additional therapeutic strategies for high-risk patients. Interest in the use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to prevent cardiovascular disease has been high for several decades. Despite promising results from before the statin era, many clinical trials have produced disappointing findings regarding products containing conventional doses of omega-3 fatty acids. More recent clinical trials using high doses of omega-3 fatty acids in targeted populations have suggested potential benefit when targeting the risk driven by atherogenic dyslipidemia. We review the clinical implications of completed and ongoing trials.

The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Adipose Tissue Energy Balance

Overnutrition and sedentary activity reinforce the growing trend of worldwide obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. However, we have limited insight into how food intake generates sophisticated metabolic perturbations associated with obesity. Accumulation of mitochondrial oxidative stress contributes to the metabolic changes in obesity, but the mechanisms and significance are unclear. In white adipose tissue (WAT), mitochondrial oxidative stress, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) impact the endocrine and metabolic function of fat cells. The central role of mitochondria in nutrient handling suggests pharmacological targeting of pathological oxidative stress likely improves the metabolic profile of obesity. This review will summarize the critical pathogenic mechanisms of obesity-driven oxidative stress in WAT.

Pioglitazone and PPAR-γ modulating treatment in hypertensive and type 2 diabetic patients after ischemic stroke: a national cohort study

Background and aim

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) modulating treatment may have cardiovascular benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients after ischemic stroke (IS). However, whether there are additional benefits from intensive PPAR-γ modulating treatments in Asian patients with T2DM and hypertension (HTN) after IS remains unknown.

Methods

Between 2001 and 2013, patients admitted due to IS were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients with T2DM and HTN using angiotensin receptor blockers were further included. Eligible patients were divided into two groups: (1) pioglitazone and (2) non-pioglitazone oral anti-diabetic agent groups. Propensity score matching (1:2) was used to balance the distribution of baseline characteristics, stroke severity and medications. The primary outcome was recurrent IS. Subgroup analysis for recurrent IS in pioglitazone and/or telmisartan users, the trend of IS risks across different PPAR-γ intensity treatments, and dose-dependent outcomes across different pioglitazone possession ratios were further studied. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and p < 0.1 for clinical outcomes and interaction of subgroup analyses, respectively.

Results

There were 3190 and 32,645 patients in the pioglitazone and non-pioglitazone groups. Patients of the pioglitazone group had a lower risk of recurrent IS (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval 0.84–0.99). Pioglitazone was also associated with reduced recurrent IS in patients who also used telmisartan (p for interaction = 0.071). A graded correlation was found a borderline significant trend between the intensity of PPAR-γ therapy and following IS (p = 0.076). The dose-dependent outcome also showed that a borderline significant trend that higher pioglitazone possession ratio was associated with a lower risk of recurrent IS (p = 0.068).

Conclusions

The current study suggests that the use of pioglitazone in type 2 diabetic and hypertensive IS patients is associated with fewer recurrent IS events in an Asian population. Concurrent telmisartan use or a higher pioglitazone possession ratio may have a trend of increased pleiotropic effects, which could possibly be related to higher PPAR-γ effects. Future studies are warranted to confirm or refute the clinical effects and the possible mechanism of more intensive PPAR-γ-modulating treatments.

Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerosis: Implications for Insulin-Sensitizing Agents

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high risk for macrovascular complications, which represent the major cause of mortality. Despite effective treatment of established cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, procoagulant state), there remains a significant amount of unexplained CV risk. Insulin resistance is associated with a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors known collectively as the insulin resistance (metabolic) syndrome (IRS). Considerable evidence, reviewed herein, suggests that insulin resistance and the IRS contribute to this unexplained CV risk in patients with T2DM. Accordingly, CV outcome trials with pioglitazone have demonstrated that this insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinedione reduces CV events in high-risk patients with T2DM. In this review the roles of insulin resistance and the IRS in the development of atherosclerotic CV disease and the impact of the insulin-sensitizing agents and of other antihyperglycemic medications on CV outcomes are discussed.