There is a recognized need for new treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recovery of glucose from the glomerular filtrate represents an important mechanism in maintaining glucose homeostasis and represents a novel target for the management of T2DM. Recovery of glucose from the glomerular filtrate is executed principally by the type 2 sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2). Inhibition of SGLT2 promotes glucose excretion and normalizes glycemia in animal models. First reports of specifically designed SGLT2 inhibitors began to appear in the second half of the 1990s. Several candidate SGLT2 inhibitors are currently under development, with four in the later stages of clinical testing. The safety profile of SGLT2 inhibitors is expected to be good, as their target is a highly specific membrane transporter expressed almost exclusively within the renal tubules. One safety concern is that of glycosuria, which could predispose patients to increased urinary tract infections. So far the reported safety profile of SGLT2 inhibitors in clinical studies appears to confirm that the class is well tolerated. Where SGLT2 inhibitors will fit in the current cascade of treatments for T2DM has yet to be established. The expected favorable safety profile and insulin-independent mechanism of action appear to support their use in combination with other antidiabetic drugs. Promotion of glucose excretion introduces the opportunity to clear calories (80-90 g [300-400 calories] of glucose per day) in patients that are generally overweight, and is expected to work synergistically with weight reduction programs. Experience will most likely lead to better understanding of which patients are likely to respond best to SGLT2 inhibitors, and under what circumstances.

The role of glucose transporters in the transport of flavonoids remains ambiguous.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of anti-hyperglycaemic agents in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This review examines their mechanism of action and provides an overview of safety and efficacy from the main studies of SGLT2 inhibitors marketed in the United States and Europe, namely, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin.

The incidence of renal-related adverse events (AEs) with canagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from a pooled population of patients in 7 active- and placebo-controlled trials (N = 5598) and in a 104-week study vs glimepiride (N = 1450) was low and similar in canagliflozin and non-canagliflozin groups. In the study vs glimepiride, canagliflozin was associated with an initial acute decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) that attenuated over time, while eGFR declined progressively over 104 weeks with glimepiride. The incidence of renal-related AEs with canagliflozin was generally stable over time, while the incidence with glimepiride increased over 104 weeks. In the present analysis, based on postmarketing reports from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, a potential signal was identified for acute kidney injury with all approved sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (ie, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin). The early onset of acute kidney injury events with SGLT2 inhibitors in postmarketing reports probably reflects the acute changes in eGFR attibutable to the known renal haemodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibition.

Sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve long-term cardiovascular and renal outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, the safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in ICU patients with type 2 diabetes is uncertain. We aimed to perform a pilot study to assess the relationship between empagliflozin therapy and biochemical, and clinical outcomes in such patients.

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS) is characterised by deficient glucose transport over the blood-brain barrier and reduced glucose availability in the brain. This causes epilepsy, movement disorders, and cognitive impairment. Treatment with ketogenic diet provides ketones as alternative energy source. However, not all GLUT1DS patients are on dietary treatment (worldwide registry: 77/181 [43%] of patients). The current 25-year experience allows evaluation of effects and tolerability of dietary treatment for GLUT1DS. To this end, literature was searched up to January 2019 for individual case reports and series reporting (side) effects of dietary treatment for GLUT1DS. Upon aggregation of data for analysis, we identified 270 GLUT1DS patients with dietary treatment with a mean follow-up of 53 months. Epilepsy improved for 83% of 230 patients and remained unchanged for 17%, movement disorders improved for 82% of 127 patients and remained unchanged for 17%, and cognition improved for 59% of 58 patients and remained stable for 40%. Effects on epilepsy were seen within days/weeks and were most pronounced in patients with early treatment initiation. Effects on movement disorders were noticed within months and were strongest in patients with higher cerebrospinal fluid-to-blood glucose ratio. Although side effects were minimal, 18% of 270 patients reported poor compliance. In individual patients, symptoms deteriorated upon low ketosis, poor compliance, or treatment discontinuation. Based on the good tolerability and strong favourable effect of dietary treatment on GLUT1DS symptoms, we advocate dietary treatment in all GLUT1DS patients and prompt diagnosis or screening to allow early treatment.

Evidence from prospective cardiovascular (CV) outcome trials in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients supports the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) to reduce the risk of CV events. In this study, we compared the risk of several CV outcomes between new users of SGLT2i and other glucose-lowering drugs (oGLDs) in Catalonia, Spain.

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors represent a novel class of antidiabetic drugs. The reporting quality of the trials evaluating the efficacy of these agents for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus has not been explored. Our aim was to assess the reporting quality of such randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to identify the predictors of reporting quality.

Although hyperglycemia is a key therapeutic focus in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many patients experience sub-optimal glycemic control. Current glucose-lowering agents involve the targeting of various body organs. Sodium glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors target the kidney, reduce renal glucose reabsorption, and increase urinary glucose elimination, thus lowering glucose blood levels. This review examines some of the key efficacy and safety data from clinical trials of the main SGLT2 inhibitors approved or currently in development, and provides a rationale for the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of T2DM.

Under diabetic conditions, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) for glucose uptake in proximal tubules (PTs) increases, whereas NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Sirtuin-1; SIRT1) for PT survival decreases. Therefore, we hypothesized that increased glucose influx by SGLT2 reduces SIRT1 expression. To test this hypothesis, db/db mice with diabetes and high-glucose (HG)-cultured porcine PT LLC-PK1 cells in a two-chamber system were treated with the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin. We also examined SIRT1 and SGLT2 expression in human kidney biopsies. In db/db mice, SGLT2 expression increased with concomitant decreases in SIRT1, but was inhibited by canagliflozin. For determination of the polarity of SGLT2 and SIRT1 expression, LLC-PK1 cells were seeded into Transwell chambers (pore size, 0.4 µm; Becton Dickinson, Oxford, UK). HG medium was added to either or to both of the upper and lower chambers, which corresponded to the apical and basolateral sides of the cells, respectively. In this system, the lower chamber with HG showed increased SGLT2 and decreased SIRT1 expression. Canagliflozin reversed HG-induced SIRT1 downregulation. Gene silencing and inhibitors for glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) blocked HG-induced SGLT2 expression upregulation. Gene silencing for the hepatic nuclear factor-1α (HNF-1α), whose nuclear translocation was enhanced by HG, blocked HG-induced SGLT2 expression upregulation. Similarly, gene silencing for importin-α1, a chaperone protein bound to GLUT2, blocked HG-induced HNF-1α nuclear translocation and SGLT2 expression upregulation. In human kidney, SIRT1 immunostaining was negatively correlated with SGLT2 immunostaining. Thus, under diabetic conditions, SIRT1 expression in PTs was downregulated by an increase in SGLT2 expression, which was stimulated by basolateral HG through activation of the GLUT2/importin-α1/HNF-1α pathway.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder among patients with type 2 diabetes and may share causal relationship. Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for progression and potential poor outcomes in NAFLD patients. This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the current evidence of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), a glucose-lowering drug to improve NAFLD in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Renal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation is one of the important pathogenic mechanisms in the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, dapagliflozin, on renal RAS in an animal model with type 2 diabetes.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) are a novel drug class for the treatment of diabetes. We aimed at describing the maximal benefits and risks associated with SGLT2-i for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and more recently for heart failure with or without diabetes. They have been shown to be safe (from the cardiovascular (CV) perspective) and effective (in terms of glycaemia, and in some cases, in reducing CV events) in extensive randomised controlled trials (RCTs). However, there remain concerns regarding the generalisability of these findings (to those ineligible for RCT participation) and about non-CV safety. For effectiveness, population-based pharmacoepidemiology studies can confirm and extend the findings of RCTs to broader populations and explore safety, for which RCTs are not usually powered, in more detail.

Cardiovascular outcome trials of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i CVOTs) found the agents to be associated with clinical benefits in terms of cardiovascular and renal outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis to assess and compare the overall prevalence of eligibility for the enrollment criteria of CANVAS, DECLARE-TIMI 58, EMPA-REG OUTCOME, and VERTIS-CV among unselected patients with type 2 diabetes.

Real-world data indicate that sodium glucose transporter-2-inhibitor therapy and/or incretin mimetics are not widely prescribed in type-2 diabetics with atherosclerotic vascular disease. We hypothesized that incretin-mimetic therapy is associated with better overall survival and 1-year mortality in type-2 diabetics following myocardial revascularization.

As type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and progressive disease with multiple pathophysiologic defects, no single anti-diabetic agent can tackle all these multi-factorial pathways. Consequently, multiple agents working through the different mechanisms will be required for the optimal glycemic control. Moreover, the combination therapies of different anti-diabetic agents may complement their actions and possibly act synergistic. Furthermore, these combinations could possess the additional properties to counter their undesired physiological compensatory response. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2I) are newly emerging class of drugs, with a great potential to reduce glucose effectively with an additional quality of lowering cardiovascular events as demonstrated very recently by one of the agents of this class. However, increase in endogenous glucose production (EGP) from the liver, either due to the increase in glucagon or compensatory response to glucosuria can offset the glucose-lowering potential of SGLT-2I. Interestingly, another class of drugs such as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4I) effectively decrease glucagon and reduce EGP. In light of these findings, combination therapies with SGLT-2I and DPP-4I are particularly appealing and are expected to produce a synergistic effect. Preclinical studies of combination therapies with DPP-4I and SGLT-2I have already demonstrated a significant lowering of hemoglobin A1c potential and human studies also find no drug-drug interaction between these agents. This article aims to systematically review the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of SGLT-2I and DPP-4I in T2DM.

Human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and poorly understood subclass of breast cancer. Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are required for glucose uptake in malignant cancer cells and are ideal targets for cancer therapy. To determine whether the inhibition of GLUTs could be used in TNBC cell therapy, the apple polyphenol phloretin (Ph) was used as a specific antagonist of GLUT2 protein function in human TNBC cells. Interestingly, we found that Ph (10-150 μM, for 24 h) inhibited cell growth and arrested the cell cycle in MDA-MB-231 cells in a p53 mutant-dependent manner, which was confirmed by pre-treatment of the cells with a p53-specific dominant-negative expression vector. We also found that Ph treatment (10-150 μM, for 24 h) significantly decreased the migratory activity of the MDA-MB-231 cells through the inhibition of paxillin/FAK, Src, and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-sMA) and through the activation of E-cadherin. Furthermore, the anti-tumorigenic effect of Ph (10, 50 mg/kg or DMSO twice a week for six weeks) was demonstrated in vivo using BALB/c nude mice bearing MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts. A decrease in N-cadherin, vimentin and an increase in p53, p21 and E-cadherin were detected in the tumor tissues. In conclusion, inhibition of GLUT2 by the apple polyphenol Ph could potentially suppress TNBC tumor cell growth and metastasis.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin, continue to be clinically essential worldwide to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. Yet, the ototoxic and nephrotoxic side-effects of these drugs remain serious complications. A major site of gentamicin uptake and toxicity resides within kidney proximal tubules that also heavily express electrogenic sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT2; SLC5A2) in vivo. We hypothesized that SGLT2 traffics gentamicin, and promotes cellular toxicity. We confirmed in vitro expression of SGLT2 in proximal tubule-derived KPT2 cells, and absence in distal tubule-derived KDT3 cells. D-glucose competitively decreased the uptake of 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), a fluorescent analog of glucose, and fluorescently-tagged gentamicin (GTTR) by KPT2 cells. Phlorizin, an SGLT2 antagonist, strongly inhibited uptake of 2-NBDG and GTTR by KPT2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GTTR uptake was elevated in KDT3 cells transfected with SGLT2 (compared to controls); and this enhanced uptake was attenuated by phlorizin. Knock-down of SGLT2 expression by siRNA reduced gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity. In vivo, SGLT2 was robustly expressed in kidney proximal tubule cells of heterozygous, but not null, mice. Phlorizin decreased GTTR uptake by kidney proximal tubule cells in Sglt2+/- mice, but not in Sglt2-/- mice. However, serum GTTR levels were elevated in Sglt2-/- mice compared to Sglt2+/- mice, and in phlorizin-treated Sglt2+/- mice compared to vehicle-treated Sglt2+/- mice. Loss of SGLT2 function by antagonism or by gene deletion did not affect gentamicin cochlear loading or auditory function. Phlorizin did not protect wild-type mice from kanamycin-induced ototoxicity. We conclude that SGLT2 can traffic gentamicin and contribute to gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity.

Diabetes prevalence shows a continuous increasing trend in South Asia. Although well-established treatment modalities exist for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management, they are limited by their side effect profile. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) with their novel insulin-independent renal action provide improved glycemic control, supplemented by reduction in weight and blood pressure, and cardiovascular safety. Based on the clinical outcomes with SGLT2i in patients with T2DM, treatment strategies that make a "good clinical sense" are desirable. Considering the peculiar lifestyle, body types, dietary patterns (long duration religious fasts), and the hot climate of the South Asian population, a unanimous decision was taken to design specific, customized guidelines for T2DM treatment strategies in these regions. The panel met for a discussion three times so as to get a consensus for the guidelines, and only unanimous consensus was included. After careful consideration of the quality and strength of the available evidence, the executive summary of this consensus statement was developed based on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology protocol.