Aims: In patients with cardiovascular disease, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is characterized by insulin resistance, high pro-inflammatory chemokines and low differentiation ability. Since dapagliflozin reduces body fat and cardiovascular events in diabetic patients, we wanted to know its effect on EAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Methods and results: Adipose samples were obtained from 52 patients undergoing heart surgery. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) expression was determined by real time PCR (n = 20), Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Fat explants (n = 21) were treated with dapagliflozin and/or insulin. Glucose, free fatty acid, adipokines levels (by array) were measured in their secretomes which were tested on human coronary endothelial cells by wound healing assays. The effect of dapagliflozin effect on levels of glucose transporters in EAT explants was analysed by Western blot. Glucose uptake was also measured by fluorescence glucose (6NBDG) of differentiated stromal vascular cells from fat pads (n = 11). Finally, dapagliflozin-induced adipocytes differentiation was analysed by AdipoRed staining and perilipin levels. Results revealed SGLT2 expression in EAT. Dapagliflozin increased glucose uptake (20.95 ± 4.4 mg/dL vs. 12.97 ± 4.1 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and glucose transporter type 4 (2.09 ± 0.3 fold change; p < 0.01) in EAT. Moreover, dapagliflozin reduced the secretion levels of chemokines and benefited wound healing in endothelial cells (0.21 ± 0.05 vs. 0.38 ± 0.08 open wound; p < 0.05). Finally, the chronic treatment with dapagliflozin improved the differentiation of SVC, confirmed by adipoRed staining (539 ± 142 a.u. vs. 473 ± 136 a.u.; p < 0.01) and perilipin expression levels (121 ± 10 vs. 84 ± 11 a.u.). Conclusions: Dapagliflozin increased glucose uptake, reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines (with a beneficial effect on the healing of human coronary artery endothelial cells) and improved the differentiation of EAT cells. These results suggest a new protective pathway for this drug on EAT from patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Obesity has increased in recent years with consequences on diabetes and other comorbidities. Thus, 1 out of 3 diabetic patients suffers cardiovascular disease (CVD). The network among glucose, immune system, endothelium and epicardial fat has an important role on pro-inflammatory and thrombotic mechanisms of atherogenesis. Since semaglutide, long-acting glucagon like peptide 1- receptor agonist (GLP-1-RA), a glucose-lowering drug, reduces body weight, we aimed to study its effects on human epicardial fat (EAT), aortic endothelial cells and neutrophils as atherogenesis involved-cardiovascular cells. Methods: EAT and subcutaneous fat (SAT) were collected from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Differential glucose consumption and protein cargo of fat-released exosomes, after semaglutide or/and insulin treatment were analyzed by enzymatic and TripleTOF, respectively. Human neutrophils phenotype and their adhesion to aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) or angiogenesis were analyzed by flow cytometry and functional fluorescence analysis. Immune cells and plasma protein markers were determined by flow cytometry and Luminex-multiplex on patients before and after 6 months treatment with semaglutide. Results: GLP-1 receptor was expressed on fat and neutrophils. Differential exosomes-protein cargo was identified on EAT explants after semaglutide treatment. This drug increased secretion of gelsolin, antithrombotic protein, by EAT, modulated CD11b on neutrophils, its migration and endothelial adhesion, induced by adiposity protein, FABP4, or a chemoattractant. Monocytes and neutrophils phenotype and plasma adiposity, stretch, mesothelial, fibrotic, and inflammatory markers on patients underwent semaglutide treatment for 6 months showed a 20% reduction with statistical significance on FABP4 levels and an 80% increase of neutrophils-CD88. Conclusion: Semaglutide increases endocrine activity of epicardial fat with antithrombotic properties. Moreover, this drug modulates the pro-inflammatory and atherogenic profile induced by the adiposity marker, FABP4, which is also reduced in patients after semaglutide treatment.

The main energy substrate of adult cardiomyocytes for their contractility are the fatty acids. Its metabolism generates high ATP levels at the expense of high oxygen consumption in the mitochondria. Under low oxygen supply, they can get energy from other substrates, mainly glucose, lactate, ketone bodies, etc., but the mitochondrial dysfunction, in pathological conditions, reduces the oxidative metabolism. In consequence, fatty acids are stored into epicardial fat and its accumulation provokes inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress, which enhance the myocardium dysfunction. Some therapies focused on improvement the fatty acids entry into mitochondria have failed to demonstrate benefits on cardiovascular disorders. Oppositely, those therapies with effects on epicardial fat volume and inflammation might improve the oxidative metabolism of myocardium and might reduce the cardiovascular disease progression. This review aims at explain (a) the energy substrate adaptation of myocardium in physiological conditions, (b) the reduction of oxidative metabolism in pathological conditions and consequences on epicardial fat accumulation and insulin resistance, and (c) the reduction of cardiovascular outcomes after regulation by some therapies.