A recent scientific study showed that the drug "empagliflozin," used to treat diabetes and belonging to the class of "SGLT2" inhibitors, may affect the activity of certain immune cells associated with inflammation and cardiovascular diseases, providing new indicators that may help explain some of the cardiac benefits associated with this medication.
The "Science Daily" website reported on Thursday that researchers from Vanderbilt Health Center in the United States observed changes in immune cells in obese women with prediabetes after receiving treatment for three months. The study results were published in the journal "Circulation," published by the American Heart Association.
Impact on Immune Cells
The study included 16 women who received the drug, along with a comparison group that followed a low-calorie diet. Researchers used techniques to analyze genetic activity and image cells, aiming to study the changes occurring in the immune system during the treatment period.
The results showed a decrease in clusters known as "platelet-monocyte aggregates," which are clusters that form as a result of platelets adhering to immune cells called monocytes. These are believed to play a role in inflammatory processes and the development of vascular diseases.
Continued Observation
The decrease in these clusters began within two weeks of starting treatment and continued until the twelfth week, while no similar change was observed in the group that followed the diet. This suggests the possibility that the drug affects certain immune pathways, in addition to its role in regulating blood sugar levels.
Dr. Mona Mosayebi, the supervising researcher on the study and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt Health Center, explained that the results provide evidence from a human study on the possibility that the drug affects immune cell behavior. This may help understand the mechanisms associated with its cardiac benefits and identify the groups that benefit most from it.
Future Trials
Based on these preliminary results, the research team has begun preparing a randomized controlled trial using a placebo. The trial is scheduled to include 74 participants with obesity and metabolic syndrome, to study immune changes and examine adipose tissue, aiming to better understand the role of obesity-related inflammation.
Researchers emphasized that the results are still preliminary and that broader studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these changes and whether they truly contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
These results contribute to deepening the understanding of the relationship between medications and immune changes associated with heart diseases, providing a foundation for additional studies to assess the extent to which these changes reflect on cardiovascular health.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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