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High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention

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01-12-2018 | Original Article

Microvascular Density and Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Before and After Treatment with Incretin Mimetics in Diabetic Patients

Authors: Carolina De Ciuceis, Claudia Agabiti-Rosei, Claudia Rossini, Stefano Caletti, Maria Antonietta Coschignano, Giulia Ferrari-Toninelli, Giorgio Ragni, Carlo Cappelli, Bruno Cerudelli, Paolo Airò, Mirko Scarsi, Angela Tincani, Enzo Porteri, Damiano Rizzoni

Published in: High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention | Issue 4/2018

Abstract

Introduction

Glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists (incretin mimetics) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (incretin enhancers) have been recently introduced in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In particular, incretin mimetics seems to have ancillary antioxidant/antinflammatory properties that might be involved in endothelial protection.

Aim

To investigate the effect of incretin mimetic therapy (liraglutide, exenatide) given to 11 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) (bone marrow-derived cells possibly participating in neovascularization and endothelial protection and repair) and capillary density.

Methods

Four diabetic patients were treated with exenatide (5 μg twice daily for 4 weeks and then 10 μg twice daily for 3 weeks) and 7 with liraglutide (0.6 mg per day for 1 week and then 1.2 mg per day for 3 weeks). Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained before treatment (basal) and after 4 week in patients treated with liraglutide, and after 4 and 7 weeks in patients treated with exenatide, since drug titration is usually longer. EPCs were evaluated by flow cytometry as CD34⁺/KDR⁺ cells. Capillary density was evaluated by videomicroscopy, before and after venous congestion, in the dorsum of the 4th finger.

Results

Patients treated with liraglutide (6 males 1 female, age 54 ± 12 years) showed a decrease in body mass index and blood pressure during treatment, while patients treated with exenatide (3 males 1 female, age 57 ± 6 years) did not show any relevant change. EPCs were significantly increased after treatment with exenatide, but not after treatment with liraglutide. Capillary density was slightly increased only after 4 weeks of treatment with exenatide, however the increase was no longer present at the final evaluation.

Conclusions

Treatment with exenatide, but not with liraglutide, was able to increase the number of circulating EPCs, possibly through an antioxidative/antiinflammatory effect.

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Title: Microvascular Density and Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Before and After Treatment with Incretin Mimetics in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Carolina De Ciuceis
Claudia Agabiti-Rosei
Claudia Rossini
Stefano Caletti
Maria Antonietta Coschignano
Giulia Ferrari-Toninelli
Giorgio Ragni
Carlo Cappelli
Bruno Cerudelli
Paolo Airò
Mirko Scarsi
Angela Tincani
Enzo Porteri
Damiano Rizzoni
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1120-9879
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1985
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-018-0279-7

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Microvascular Density and Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Before and After Treatment with Incretin Mimetics in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Introduction

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Abstract

Introduction

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Conclusions

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