Plasma proteomics reveals an improved cardio-metabolic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes post-liraglutide treatment

Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic multisystem disease with a high global prevalence, including in Saudi Arabia. The Glucagon-like Peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist liraglutide is known to lower glucose levels, reduce weight and improve cardiovascular outcome. However, mechanisms underlying the benefits of liraglutide treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unclear. Methods In the present study, a 2D-DIGE MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric approach combined with bioinformatics and network pathway analysis explore the plasma proteomic profile. The study involved 20 patients with T2DM with mean age of 54.4 +/- 9.5 years and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between 8% and 11% (inclusive). Results A statistically significant change (p < .006) was observed in HbA1c with no significant changes in body weight, renal function, or markers of dyslipidemia post-treatment with liraglutide. 2 D-DIGE gel analysis identified significant changes (> 1.5-fold change, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), p <= 0.05) in 72 proteins, (62 down and 10 up) in liraglutide pre-treatment compared to the post-treatment state. Proteins identified in our study were found to regulate metabolic processes including acute phase response proteins, enzymes, apolipoproteins with involvement of the inflammatory signaling pathways, NF-kappa B, AKT, and p38 MAPK Conclusion Liraglutide treatment decreased levels of acute phase response that to reduce the systemic chronic inflammatory state and oxidative stress, and eventually improve the cardio-metabolic profile in these patients.