The potential role of sitagliptin as an oral treatment regimen for type I diabetes mellitus

Amir Mohamed Abdelhamid; Rania Ramadan Abdelaziz; Hoda Atef; Hatem Abdelrahman Ali Salem

Authors

Amir Mohamed Abdelhamid Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Egypt
Rania Ramadan Abdelaziz Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Egypt
Hoda Atef Department of Histology & Cytology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt
Hatem Abdelrahman Ali Salem Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Mansoura University, Egypt

Keywords:

Type 1 DM, β-cell, Regeneration, Sitagliptin

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) has become an emerging worldwide epidemic with growing incidence all over the world in the past several decades. Insulin replacement has been the backbone of therapy in T1D which is characterized by a near total insulin deficiency. Current treatments still do not resemble the pancreatic β-cells’ endogenous insulin profile, and all still show risks of hypoglycemia, ketosis and suboptimal control. The management of T1D remains an ongoing challenge. In this study, we investigated the potential role of Sitagliptin (Sita) as an oral treatment regimen for T1D using Streptozotocin (STZ) induced T1D model in rats. Daily oral administration of Sita (10 mg/kg) for 7 weeks significantly reduced blood glucose levels and HbA_1c. It increased serum insulin levels while decreasing serum glucagon and also showed an anti-oxidant activity by increasing GSH content and SOD activity with concomitant reduction of MDA and nitrite/nitrate contents. Immunohistochemical analysis showed an improvement in β-cells in treated groups when compared to diabetic one. Conclusion: Sitagliptin has the ability to improve the overall glycemic control in type 1 diabetic rats.