title: Novel role for the incretins in blood pressure regulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Incretin-based therapies are currently being used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Apart from glycemic control, these agents have been shown to have multiple extra-pancreatic effects, including their role in blood pressure (BP) regulation. This article will review the origins of incretins, the incretin axis, possible mechanisms of antihypertensive effect of these agents, as well as the recent evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate the antihypertensive effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analogs in patients with T2DM and hypertension. This effect seems to be mediated through vasodilatation as well as modulation of renal sodium handling causing natriuresis, although the exact mechanisms are not fully known.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incretin-based therapies are emerging as a novel class of hypoglycemic agents that display antihypertensive properties. Given the small decreases in BP, it is unlikely that these agents will be used as stand-alone antihypertensive agents, but they may be an attractive option in patients with T2DM and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA. yerramp@health.misouri.edu
authors.forename: Preethi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yerram
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whaley-Connell
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054795:Incretins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D054795:Incretins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1