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Simvastatin attenuates the aberrant expression of angiogenic factors induced by glucose variability

Marzena Dworacka1, Saule Iskakova2, Anna Wesołowska1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5d, 60-805 Poznań, Poland.

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|July 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Simvastatin treatment in diabetic rats with glucose variability reduced glucose fluctuations and altered angiogenic factors in the cardiovascular system, potentially mitigating atherosclerosis risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Fluctuant hyperglycemia increases cardiovascular complication risk in diabetes.
  • Statins are used for cardiovascular prevention in diabetes, but their effect on glucose variability-induced angiogenesis is unclear.
  • Aberrant angiogenesis is a key factor in atherosclerosis development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of simvastatin on glucose variability and associated angiogenic factors in a type 2 diabetes rat model.
  • To determine if simvastatin can prevent aberrant angiogenesis induced by glycemic variability.

Main Methods:

  • A type 2 diabetes rat model with daily glucose excursions was established.
  • Rats were treated with simvastatin (20 mg/kg) or placebo for 8 weeks.
  • Measurements included daily glucose fluctuations, angiogenic factors (VEGF, TGF-beta), and endothelial cells.

Main Results:

  • Simvastatin reduced circulating VEGF and TGF-beta expression in the myocardium, and VEGFR-2 in the aorta, which were elevated by glucose excursions.
  • Simvastatin increased myocardial and aortic VEGF and VEGFR-1 expression, which were attenuated by glucose fluctuations.
  • Simvastatin treatment lowered circulating endothelial cells and increased progenitor endothelial cells in diabetic rats with glycemic variability.

Conclusions:

  • Simvastatin effectively reduces glucose variability in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.
  • Simvastatin mitigates glucose variability-induced changes in angiogenic factor expression within the cardiovascular system.
  • These findings suggest simvastatin may offer a protective effect against atherosclerosis development in diabetic patients with glycemic variability.
Abstract

Keywords:
Angiogenic factorsDiabetes complicationGlucose variabilitySimvastatin

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