The weight-loss-independent hepatoprotective benefits of semaglutide are orchestrated by intrahepatic sinusoidal endothelial GLP-1 receptors.
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Semaglutide improves liver health in mice with MASH through intrahepatic sinusoidal endothelial GLP-1 receptors, independent of weight loss, with a substantial effect on fibrosis and immune remodeling.
- Why it matters: Understanding weight-loss-independent mechanisms of liver protection is crucial for developing targeted therapies for metabolic liver diseases like MASH, especially for patients who do not respond to weight loss.
- What they did: Researchers used mouse models, including Glp1r Wnt1-/- and Glp1r Tie2-/- mice, along with transcriptomic profiling and targeted gene knockdowns, to identify the role of GLP-1 receptors on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.
- The result: Findings show that semaglutide's hepatoprotective effects depend on GLP-1R in intrahepatic ECs, enabling new strategies for liver disease treatment that bypass weight loss and focus on endothelial cell pathways.