title: The emerging role of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in cardiovascular protection: current position and perspectives.
abstract: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4 or CD26) inhibitors, a new class of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents that prolong the bioavailability of the endogenously secreted incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are effective in the treatment of diabetes. Accumulating data have indicated that DPP-4 inhibitors play important protective roles in the cardiovascular system. DPP-4 inhibitors act to decrease myocardial infarct size, stabilize the cardiac electrophysiological state during myocardial ischemia, reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury, and prevent left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. Moreover, DPP-4 inhibitors can mobilize stem/progenitor cells to move to sites of cardiovascular injury, thus further promoting tissue repair. In addition, DPP-4 inhibitors not only improve myocardial metabolism but also regulate cardioactive peptides. DPP-4 inhibitors can also protect the vasculature through their anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects and through the ability of the inhibitors to promote vascular relaxation. Finally, the potential effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on blood pressure and lipid metabolism have also been investigated. However, some reports on the cardioprotective activities of DPP-4 inhibitors are controversial. Herein, we summarize the available data on cardiovascular protection by DPP-4 inhibitors that have emerged in recent years and discuss current position and future perspectives concerning the use of DPP-4 inhibitors in cardiovascular medicine.
authors: Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xi-Mei
authors: XM
authors: Wang
authors: Yue-Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Yang
authors: Yong-Jian
authors: YJ
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors