Yining Li, Yulin Chen, Hui Zhang, Weidong Chen, Yan Pan

Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Weidong Chen; Yan Pan, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, People’s Republic of China, Email cwd2012@163.com; py19841205@163.com

Purpose: The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) is a pharmacological agent utilized for the treatment of diabetes, known for its significant reno protective effects. This study aims to investigate the impact of liraglutide, a representative GLP-1RA medication, on early endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.
Methods: The present study employed a high-fat, high-sugar diet in combination with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish an experimental rat model of diabetes. Subsequently, the therapeutic efficacy of liraglutide on renal injury in this model was evaluated using various doses.
Results: Compared to the DKD rats, the rats treated with Liraglutide exhibited significant reductions in levels of blood glucose (Glu), serum creatinine (Scr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a dose-dependent decrease in urinary protein levels, including 24-hour urinary protein excretion rate and microalbuminuria (m-ALB), with higher doses demonstrating more pronounced therapeutic effects (P < 0.05). In addition, treatment with Liraglutide effectively improved glomerular and interstitial damage, and suppressed the expression of CD31, CD34, and VE-cadherin associated with endothelial cell injury (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Liraglutide administration significantly increased nitric oxide (NO) production (P < 0.05). Moreover, Liraglutide treatment resulted in decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Delta-like ligand-4(Dll4), and Notch2 protein in the Notch2 signaling pathway (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that Liraglutide has a substantial effect on decreasing urinary protein excretion and improving vascular microinflammation, thus alleviating endothelial dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy. This observed mechanism can be attributed to the inhibition of the Dll4/Notch2 signaling pathway.

Keywords: diabetic kidney disease, Dll4/Notch2 signaling pathway, endothelial dysfunction, liraglutide, VEGF