Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp large bowel, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which is derived from the K cells of the proximal small intestine. GLP-1 and GIP are glucose-lowering agents that can interfere with postprandial hyperglycemia, which has been demonstrated as associated with cardiovascular complications. The biologically active forms of GLP-1 include GLP-1(7-37) and GLP-1(7-36)amide. These peptides arise from the selective cleavage of the proglucagon molecule. GLP-1(7-36)amide is abundant in the circulation after meals and stimulates insulin secretion by interacting with the GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic beta cells. DPP-4 degrades GLP-1(7-36)amide to inactive GLP-1(9-36)amide, and DPP-4 inhibitors bind to DPP-4 to prevent the breakdown of GLP-1 and GIP, 5 thereby increasing the half-life and bioavailability of active incretins, ultimately enhancing their physiological effects. GLP-1(7-36)amide has been widely studied for its role as an active incretin and is referred to as GLP-1, unless otherwise specified. GLP-1(9-36) amide is thought to be an inactive metabolite because of its 1,000-fold lower affinity for GLP-1R and action as a weak competitive antagonist without incretin activity at pharmacological doses. However, GLP-1(9-36)amide may have potent effects on the cardiovascular system, similar to GLP-1(7-36) amide. Although it remains controversial, GLP-1 may undergo multiple cycles of enzymatic degradation by DPP-4 and neprilysin. Therefore, the precise biological pathways of GLP-1 and related enzymes and the roles of metabolites in each step of the process in vivo need to be elucidated in the near future.
Effects of Incretins on Cardiac FunctionCardiomyocytes in Vitro GLP-1 rapidly increases the 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in adult rat ventricular cardiac myocytes, consistent with its effect on pancreatic beta cells, in a manner ype 2 diabetes (T2DM) is one of the most important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, as it promotes both systemic atherosclerosis and lifestyle-associated diseases. Incretin-based therapies, including treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, have become widely used as a new class of antidiabetic drugs that exhibit different mechanisms of action from those of conventional antidiabetic agents. Incretin hormones depend on blood glucose to stimulate insulin. Because the use of DPP-4 inhibitors is associated with a lower incidence of hypoglycemia than is observed with conventional hypoglycemic drugs, they potentially improve the mortality rate of patients with T2DM by achieving strict glycemic control without causing fatal hypoglycemia. The GLP-1R has been detected in coronary endothelial cells, coronary smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, as well as monocytes and macrophages. 1-4 Interestingly, GLP-1 acts on multiple organ...