Potential Mechanisms Underlying Differences in the Effect of Incretin-Based Antidiabetic Drugs on the Risk of Major Atherosclerotic Ischemic Events

Incretin-based drugs exert antihyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetes by mimicking or potentiating the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which acts on the pancreas to stimulate the release of insulin. Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., exenatide, liraglutide and semaglutide) are resistant to endogenous degradation and produce prolonged stimulation of the GLP-1 receptor. Conversely, drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) (e.g., sitagliptin and saxagliptin) enhance the actions of endogenous GLP-1 and may also augment non-GLP-1 peptides that are normally degraded by DPP-4.

Source: Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications - March 26, 2018 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Milton Packer Source Type: research