AUTHOR=Cao Fen , Wu Kun , Zhu Yong-Zhi , Bao Zhong-Wu 

TITLE=Roles and Mechanisms of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors in Vascular Aging

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.731273

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2021.731273

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Vascular aging is characterized by alterations in the constitutive properties and biological functions of blood vessel wall. Endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are indispensability elements in the inner layer and the medial layer of blood vessel wall respectively. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, as a hypoglycemic agent, play a protective role in reversing vascular aging regardless of their effects in meliorating glycemic control in humans and animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through complex cellular mechanisms, including improving ECs dysfunction, promoting ECs proliferation and migration, alleviating ECs senescence, obstructing ECs apoptosis, suppressing the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, increasing circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) levels, and preventing the infiltration of mononuclear macrophages. All of which showed that DPP4 inhibitors may exert a positive effect against vascular aging, thereby preventing vascular aging-related diseases. In the current review, we will summarize the cellular mechanism of DPP4 inhibitors regulating vascular aging, moreover, we also intend to compile the roles and the promising therapeutic application of DPP4 inhibitors in vascular aging-related diseases.