Current and potential use of GLP-1R agonists: beyond type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Intestinal incretins, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and gastric insulinotropic peptide, which are released after food ingestion, have glucoregulatory effects, which is why, in recent years, pharmacological agents with an impact similar to incretins have been developed. The results of GLP-1 and its pharmacological analogs are mediated by the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), whose gene is mainly expressed in the pancreas, heart, and brain. They are used as second-line therapy in treating type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to their favorable effect on the glycemic profile and body weight. Current data suggest that GLP-1R agonists exert direct and indirect anti-inflammatory effects in treating T2D and, therefore, could also have clinical applications in other diseases with inflammatory components, such as T2D, non-alcoholic fatty liver and chronic inflammation present in aging and associated cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, among others. A glance to these issues is the goal of this brief narrative review.

Keywords

• Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor. Incretins. Pharmacological glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists. Type 2 diabetes.