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Cardiovascular Diabetology
Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Diabetic Cardiomyopathy | Original investigation

SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin attenuates myocardial oxidative stress and fibrosis in diabetic mice heart

Authors: Chenguang Li, Jie Zhang, Mei Xue, Xiaoyu Li, Fei Han, Xiangyang Liu, Linxin Xu, Yunhong Lu, Ying Cheng, Ting Li, Xiaochen Yu, Bei Sun, Liming Chen

Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Hyperglycaemia associated with myocardial oxidative stress and fibrosis is the main cause of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor has recently been reported to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes in an insulin-independent manner. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of empagliflozin on myocardium injury and the potential mechanism in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice.

Methods

Thirty diabetic KK-Ay mice were administered empagliflozin (10 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, heart structure and function were evaluated by echocardiography. Oxidants and antioxidants were measured and cardiac fibrosis was analysed using immunohistochemistry, Masson’s trichrome stain and Western blot.

Results

Results showed that empagliflozin improved diabetic myocardial structure and function, decreased myocardial oxidative stress and ameliorated myocardial fibrosis. Further study indicated that empagliflozin suppressed oxidative stress and fibrosis through inhibition of the transforming growth factor β/Smad pathway and activation of Nrf2/ARE signaling.

Conclusions

Glycaemic control with empagliflozin significantly ameliorated myocardial oxidative stress injury and cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice. Taken together, these results indicate that the empagliflozin is a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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Metadata
Title
SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin attenuates myocardial oxidative stress and fibrosis in diabetic mice heart
Authors
Chenguang Li
Jie Zhang
Mei Xue
Xiaoyu Li
Fei Han
Xiangyang Liu
Linxin Xu
Yunhong Lu
Ying Cheng
Ting Li
Xiaochen Yu
Bei Sun
Liming Chen
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cardiovascular Diabetology / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2840
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-019-0816-2

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