GLP-1 and Underlying Beneficial Actions in Alzheimer's Disease, Hypertension, and NASH

• Published in: Frontiers in endocrinology (Lausanne) 2021-09, Vol.12, p.721198-721198
• Main Authors: Li, Qiu-Xuan, Gao, Han, Guo, Yue-Xin, Wang, Bo-Ya, Hua, Rong-Xuan, Gao, Lei, Shang, Hong-Wei, Lu, Xin, Xu, Jing-Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - etiology; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Alzheimer Disease - therapy; Alzheimer’s disease; Animals; blood pressure; DPP-4; Endocrinology; GLP-1; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - analogs & derivatives; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - pharmacology; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - physiology; Humans; Hypertension - etiology; Hypertension - pathology; Hypertension - therapy; Incretins - metabolism; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - drug effects; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - etiology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - pathology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - therapy; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; signaling pathway
• ISSN: 1664-2392; 1664-2392
• DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.721198

GLP-1 is derived from intestinal L cells, which takes effect through binding to GLP-1R and is inactivated by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). Since its discovery, GLP-1 has emerged as an incretin hormone for its facilitation in insulin release and reduction of insulin resistance (IR). However, GLP-1 possesses broader pharmacological effects including anti-inflammation, neuro-protection, regulating blood pressure (BP), and reducing lipotoxicity. These effects are interconnected to the physiological and pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), hypertension, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Currently, the underlying mechanism of these effects is still not fully illustrated and a better understanding of them may help identify promising therapeutic targets of AD, hypertension, and NASH. Therefore, we focus on the biological characteristics of GLP-1, render an overview of the mechanism of GLP-1 effects in diseases, and investigate the potential of GLP-1 analogues for the treatment of related diseases in this review.