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Crucial role for sensory nerves and Na/H exchanger inhibition in dapagliflozin- and empagliflozin-induced arterial relaxation

Forrester EA, Benítez-Angeles M, Redford KE, Rosenbaum T, Abbott GW, Barrese V, Dora K, Albert AP et al.

Cardiovascular research, 2024

Abstract

AIMS: Sodium/glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2 or SLC5A2) inhibitors lower blood glucose and are also approved treatments for heart failure independent of raised glucose. Various studies have showed that SGLT2 inhibitors relax arteries, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood and responses variable across arterial beds. We speculated that SGLT2 inhibitor-mediated arterial relaxation is dependent upon calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from sensory nerves independent of glucose transport.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The functional effects of SGLT1 and 2 inhibitors (mizagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin) and the sodium/hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1) blocker cariporide were determined on pre-contracted resistance arteries (mesenteric and cardiac septal arteries) as well as main renal conduit arteries from male Wistar rats using wire myography. SGLT2, CGRP, TRPV1, and NHE1 expression was determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Kv7.4/5/KCNE4 and TRPV1 currents were measured in the presence and absence of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin. All SGLT inhibitors (1-100 µM) and cariporide (30 µM) relaxed mesenteric arteries but had negligible effect on renal or septal arteries. Immunohistochemistry with TRPV1 and CGRP antibodies revealed a dense innervation of sensory nerves in mesenteric arteries that were absent in renal and septal arteries. Consistent with a greater sensory nerve component, the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin relaxed mesenteric arteries more…

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