Current data on the effectiveness of gliclazide and molecular mechanisms of action of the drug

With the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) the possibility of treating it with available drugs is one of the main issues. Although glycemic control and reduction of micro- and macrovascular outcomes remain important aspects of treatment, the main limiting factors are the availability and cost of oral hypoglycemic agents. Although newer agents, such as sodium -glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, potentially being valuable for patients with insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications, they are relatively expensive and have limited availability. Second-generation sulfonylureas effectively reduce glycated hemoglobin and contribute to the prevention of micro- and macrovascular complications of T2DM The review substantiates the role of Gliclazide MR as a more affordable drug for the treatment of T2DM, the safety of which has been confirmed by many studies; cardio-and nephroprotective effects are shown, as well as mechanisms for influencing в-cells of the pancreas and extrapancreatic effects through activation of phospholipase C and the G-protein-сoupled-receptors (GPCR) are analyzed. The latest data on the assessment of adverse events of Gliclazide MR are presented in comparison with both other sulfonylureas and glucose-lowering drugs of other classes.

GLP-1-induced renal vasodilation in rodents depends exclusively on the known GLP-1 receptor and is lost in prehypertensive rats

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone known to stimulate postprandial insulin release. However, GLP-1 also exerts extrapancreatic effects, including renal effects. Some of these renal effects are attenuated in hypertensive rats, where renal expression of GLP-1 receptors is reduced. Here, we assessed the expression and vascular function of GLP-1 receptors in kidneys from young prehypertensive rats. We also examined GLP-1-induced vasodilation in the renal vasculature in wild-type (WT) and GLP-1 receptor knockout mice using wire and pressure myography and the isolated perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation. We investigated whether GLP-1 and the metabolite GLP-1(9–36)amide had renal vascular effects independent of the known GLP-1 receptor. We hypothesized that hypertension decreased expression of renal GLP-1 receptors. We also hypothesized that GLP-1-induced renal vasodilatation depended on expression of the known GLP-1 receptor. In contrast to normotensive rats, no immunohistochemical staining or vasodilatory function of GLP-1 receptors was found in kidneys from prehypertensive rats. In WT mice, GLP-1 induced renal vasodilation and reduced the renal autoregulatory response. The GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin 9–39 inhibited relaxation, and GLP-1(9–36)amide had no vasodilatory effect. In GLP-1 receptor knockout mice, no relaxation induced by GLP-1 or GLP-1(9–36)amide was found, the autoregulatory response in afferent arterioles was normal, and no GLP-1-induced reduction of autoregulation was found. We conclude that in prehypertensive kidneys, expression and function of GLP-1 receptors is lost. The renal vasodilatory effect of GLP-1 is mediated exclusively by the known GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1(9–36)amide has no renal vasodilatory effect. GLP-1 attenuates renal autoregulation by reducing the myogenic response.

Incretin Hormones: The Link between Glycemic Index and Cardiometabolic Diseases

This review aimed to describe the potential mechanisms by which incretin hormones could mediate the relationship between glycemic index and cardiometabolic diseases. A body of evidence from many studies suggests that low glycemic index (GI) diets reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. In fact, despite the extensive literature on this topic, the mechanisms underlying unfavorable effects of high GI foods on health remain not well defined. The postprandial and hormonal milieu could play a key role in the relationship between GI and cardiovascular risk. Incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are important regulators of postprandial homeostasis by amplifying insulin secretory responses. Response of GIP and GLP-1 to GI have been studied more in depth, also by several studies on isomaltulose, which have been taken as an ideal model to investigate the kinetics of incretin secretion in response to foods’ GI. In addition, extrapancreatic effects of these incretin hormones were also recently observed. Emerging from this have been exciting effects on several targets, such as body weight regulation, lipid metabolism, white adipose tissue, cardiovascular system, kidney, and liver, which may importantly affect the health status.