The SGLT2 Inhibitor Canagliflozin Reduces Atherosclerosis by Enhancing Macrophage Autophagy

Overview

Journal J Cardiovasc Transl Res

Publisher Springer

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2023 May 1

PMID 37126209

Authors

Hongping Chen

Da Teng

Bowen Xu

Chunxiao Wang

Hua Wang

Wenjuan Jia

Lei Gong

Haibin Dong

Lin Zhong

Jun Yang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

It has been shown that SGLT2 suppresses atherosclerosis (AS). Recent studies indicate that autophagy widely participates in atherogenesis. This study aimed to assess the effect of canagliflozin (CAN) on atherogenesis via autophagy. Macrophages and ApoE - / - mice were used in this study. In macrophages, the results showed that CAN promoted LC3II expression and autophagosome formation. Furthermore, the cholesterol efflux assay demonstrated that CAN enhanced cholesterol efflux from macrophages via autophagy, resulting in lower lipid droplet concentrations in macrophages. The western blot revealed that CAN regulated autophagy via the AMPK/ULK1/Beclin1 signaling pathway. CAN resulted in increased macrophage autophagy in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE - / - mice, confirming that CAN could inhibit the progression of AS via promoting macrophage autophagy. The current study found that CAN reduced the production of atherosclerotic lesions, which adds to our understanding of how SGLT2 inhibitors function to delay the progression of AS.

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