Semaglutide reduces vascular inflammation investigated by PET in a rabbit model of advanced atherosclerosis

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Background and aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of semaglutide, a long acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, on atherosclerotic inflammation and calcification using a multimodality positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) approach. Methods: Atherosclerotic New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to an intervention- (n = 12) or placebo group (n = 11) receiving either semaglutide or saline-placebo. PET/CT imaging was done before and after 16-weeks of intervention. Three different radiotracers were used: [64Cu]Cu-DOTATATE for imaging of activated macrophages, [18F]FDG imaging cellular metabolism and [18F]NaF PET visualizing micro-calcifications. Tracer uptake was quantified by maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target-to-background-ratio (TBRmax). Animals were euthanized for autoradiographic imaging and histological analyses. Results: A reduction in activated macrophage tracer-uptake was observed in the semaglutide group (SUVmax: p = 0.001 and TBRmax: p = 0.029). When imaging cellular metabolism, an attenuation of SUVmax and TBRmax was observed in the semaglutide group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.044). We found no difference in uptake of the micro-calcification tracer between the two groups (SUVmax: p = 0.62 and TBRmax: p = 0.36). Values of macrophage density in the vessel wall were significantly correlated with SUVmax values of the activated macrophage (r = 0.54, p = 0.0086) and cellular metabolism tracers (r = 0.51, p = 0.013). Conclusions: Semaglutide decreased vascular uptake of tracers imaging activated macrophages and cellular metabolism but not micro-calcifications compared to a saline placebo. This supports the hypothesis that semaglutide reduces atherosclerotic inflammation by means of decreased activated macrophage activity.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAtherosclerosis
Vol/bind352
Sider (fra-til)88-95
ISSN0021-9150
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The authors are supported by funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements no. 670261 (ERC Advanced Grant) and 668532 (Click-It), the Lundbeck Foundation , the Novo Nordisk Foundation , the Innovation Fund Denmark , the Danish Cancer Society , Arvid Nilsson Foundation , the Neye Foundation , the Research Foundation of Rigshospitalet , the Danish National Research Foundation (grant 126 ), the Research Council of the Capital Region of Denmark , the Danish Health Authority, the John and Birthe Meyer Foundation and Research Council for Independent Research. Andreas Kjaer is a Lundbeck Foundation Professor.

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© 2022 The Authors

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