Research Article Details
Article ID: | A06274 |
PMID: | 32945071 |
Source: | Diabetes Obes Metab |
Title: | A look to the future in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Are glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues or sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors the answer? |
Abstract: | The increasing prevalence of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing public health concern associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic cost, particularly in those who progress to cirrhosis. Medical treatment is frequently limited, with no specific licensed treatments currently available for people with NAFLD. Its association with diabetes raises the possibility of shared mechanisms of disease progression and treatment. With the ever-growing interest in the non-glycaemic effects of diabetes medications, studies and clinical trials have investigated hepatic outcomes associated with the use of drug classes used for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues or sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Studies exploring the use of GLP-1 analogues or SGLT2 inhibitors in people with NAFLD have observed improved measures of hepatic inflammation, liver enzymes and radiological features over short periods. However, these studies tend to have variable study populations and inconsistent reported outcomes, limiting comparison between drugs and drug classes. As these drugs appear to improve biomarkers of NAFLD, clinicians should consider their use in patients with NAFLD and T2D. However, further evidence with greater participant numbers and longer trial durations is required to support specific licensing for people with NAFLD. Larger trials would allow reporting of major adverse hepatic events, akin to cardiovascular and renal outcome trials, to be determined. This would provide a more meaningful evaluation of the impact of these drugs in NAFLD. Nevertheless, these drugs represent a future potential therapeutic avenue in this difficult-to-treat population and may beget significant health and economic impacts. |
DOI: | 10.1111/dom.14196 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T02 | Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 | SLC5A2 | inhibitor | Transporter | P31639 | SC5A2_HUMAN | Details |
T10 | Caspase-1 | CASP1 | inhibitor | Enzyme | P29466 | CASP1_HUMAN | Details |
T06 | Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor | GLP1R | agonist | GPCR | P43220 | GLP1R_HUMAN | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D549 | SGLT2 inhibitor | Chemical drug | -- | SGLT2 inhibitor | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D083 | CLA | Chemical drug | DB01211 | KCNH2; SLCO1B1; SLCO1B3 | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D531 | GLP-1 analogue | Biological drug | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D155 | Glucagon | Biological drug | DB00040 | GCGR agonist | Antidiabetic drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |