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The anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of SGLT-2 inhibitors
G Bendotti1,2, L Montefusco1, I Pastore1
1Division of Endocrinology, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Background:
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are antidiabetic oral drugs that act on proximal renal tubules promoting renal glucose excretion. Although SGLT-2i belong to the class of hypoglycemic agents, in the last years great interest has emerged in studying their pleiotropic effects, beyond their ability to lower glucose levels.
Purpose:
In this review we are describing the anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of SGLT-2i; furthermore, we are addressing how the mechanisms associated with the aforementioned anti-inflammatory properties may contribute to the beneficial effects of SGLT-2i in diabetes.
Methods:
A systematic search was undertaken for studies related the properties of SGLT-2i in reducing the inflammatory milieu of acute and chronic disease by acting on the immune system, independently by glycemia.
Results:
Recently, some data described the anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of SGLT-2 in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. Numerous data confirmed the cardio- and -renal protective effects of SGLT-2i in patients with heart failure and kidney diseases, with or without diabetes.
Conclusions:
SGLT-2i are promising drugs with anti-inflammatory and immunological properties. Despite the mechanism of action of SGLT-2i is not fully understood, these drugs demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, which may help in keeping under control the variety of complications associated with diabetes.
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