Evaluation of anti-atherosclerotic effects of Sitagliptin via modulation of the mTOR pathway in male rabbits

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Sitagliptin on the progression of atherosclerosis. Twenty-one male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2-2.5 kg each were split into three groups: normal control, atherogenic control, and Sitagliptin-treated. The following parameters: serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and a tissue autophagy marker (p62) using ELISA, aortic mRNA expression of mTORC1 marker using Real-Time Quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR), and histological inspection of the aorta were assessed. The mRNA expression of mTORC1 and the lipid profile of aortic tissue are considerably elevated in atherogenic diet-fed animals. Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of a substantial atherosclerotic lesion in the animals fed an atherogenic diet. However, compared to an atherogenic control group, Sitagliptin dramatically reduced lipid profile, P62 aortic level, and mRNA expression of mTORC1. Sitagliptin medication slowed the development of atherosclerosis via increasing autophagy through suppression of the mTORC1 signaling pathway.PMID:37168300 | PMC:PMC10165524 | DOI:10.25122/jml-2022-0298
Source: Journal of Medicine and Life - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research