Novel SGLT2 inhibitors with endothelial-protective potential: a combined computational and experimental approach

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of anti-diabetic drugs with cardiovascular benefits independent of glycemic control, partly via endothelial protection. Identifying novel inhibitors with both high affinity and vascular-protective effects remains a priority.

Structure-based high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) of 14 million ligands was performed using Schrödinger Glide. Compounds with better docking scores than empagliflozin (-13.615) were filtered for ADME properties using QikProp. Ten lead compounds were evaluated in human coronary artery endothelial cells under diabetic and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) models. Assays included glucose uptake, cytotoxicity (LDH), oxidative stress (ROS), and nitrosative stress (NO).

Compound #7 demonstrated the most potent activity, reducing glucose uptake by 55 % (p<0.01), ROS by 48 % (p<0.05), and NO by 47 % (p<0.05). LDH release decreased 16 % under diabetic stress and 20 % under I/R injury (both p<0.05).

Compound #7 is a novel SGLT2 inhibitor with dual glucose-lowering and endothelial-protective effects. These findings highlight the utility of HTVS for rapid lead identification and support further development of compound #7 as a potential therapeutic agent targeting metabolic and vascular complications of diabetes.