Anti-inflammatory effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on atherosclerosis.

Abstract Atherosclerosis is a very common macrovascular complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in diabetes patients. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are a newly identified class of drugs targeting the renal proximal tubules to increase glucose excretion. Large-scale clinical trials have confirmed the cardiovascular protective effects of SGLT inhibitors in patients with diabetes diagnosed with or at a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In addition to its direct effect on glycemic control, the function of SGLT-2i in the alleviation of volume load, renal protection, and reduction of inflammation plays an essential role in its therapeutic effect on atherosclerosis. SGLT-2i are known to decrease the levels of inflammatory factors in circulation and in arteries in situ, inhibit foam cell formation and macrophage infiltration, and sustain plaque stability, ultimately blocking the development and progression of atherosclerosis.