Subcutaneous adipose tissue composition and function are unaffected by liraglutide‐induced weight loss in adults with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Adipose tissue is the primary energy reservoir of the human body, which also possesses endocrine functions. The glucagon‐like peptide agonist liraglutide produces weight loss, although the specific effects on adipose tissue are unknown. We aimed to characterize the white adipose tissue composition and pericellular fibrosis of subcutaneous adipose tissue in response to liraglutide treatment. Furthermore, we explored the level of circulating free fatty acids, cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) macrophage marker, leptin and adiponectin. Thirty‐nine adults with type 1 diabetes and polyneuropathy were randomly assigned to 26 weeks of liraglutide or placebo treatment. Biopsies of subcutaneous tissue were formalin‐fixed stained with picrosirius red to visualize collagen or immunohistochemically stained for CD163. Serum concentrations of free fatty acids, CD163, leptin and adiponectin were assessed with immunoassays or multiplex panels. In comparison with placebo, liraglutide induced weight loss (3.38 kg, 95% CI −5.29; −1.48, P < 0.001), but did not cause any differences in cell size, distribution of CD163‐positive cells, pericellular fibrosis and serum levels of free fatty acids, CD163, leptin or adiponectin (all P < 0.1). Additionally, no associations between weight loss, cell size and serum markers were found (all P > 0.08). In conclusion, despite liraglutide's effect on weight loss, sustained alterations in subcutaneous adipose tissue did not seem to appear.

Anthropometric Characteristics of Limbs and Body Circumferences in Bulgarians with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Darabian et al, and Momesso et al reported close to our results concerning the accumulation of visceral fat tissue in patients with T1DM [5,12]. Wegeberg et al reported lack of reduction of subcutaneous fat tissue in patients with T1DM [17].…”

GLP‐1 analogs and regional adiposity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of those, 45 were finally deemed eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. The studies by Camastra et al 2017, 16 Jendle et al 2009, 17 Bays et al 2017, 18 Blundell et al 2017, 19 Koska et al 2018, 20 Basolo et al 2018, 21 Cusi et al 2018, 22 Newsome et al 2021, 23 Wegeberg et al 2021, 24 Blonde et al 2021, 25 and Flint et al 2020 26 were not further used for the meta‐analysis due to lack of appropriate extractable data of interest. Consequently, 34 studies were included in the effect estimate models.…”

Effect of Liraglutide combined with Jinlida granules on glycolipid metabolism and islet function of type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…In the condition of long-term hyperglycemia, the body of T2DM patients gradually presents inflammatory responses, and most diabetic patients also have dyslipidemia, which destroys vascular endothelial function of patients [16]. However, vascular endothelial function impairment is the basic pathological change of various complications in T2DM patients, which will lead to atherosclerosis and thrombosis [17].…”