About this Research Topic

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. MetS is associated with inflammation and is a predictor for the long-term development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is secreted from the intestinal L-cells in response to food intake. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have been established for the treatment of T2DM and cardio-renal protection in T2DM patients. Recent studies indicate that incretin-based therapies, such as GLP-1R agonists, dual GLP-1R and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists, and triple-hormone-receptor (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors) agonists, have shown promising effects in managing body weight in obese subjects. Notably, liraglutide, a long-lasting GLP-1R agonist, was approved by the FDA for obesity treatment in 2014. Additionally, the first oral formulation of GLP-1R agonists, semaglutide, received FDA approval in 2019 for chronic weight management in obese adults, with the injectable preparation gaining FDA approval for weight management in 2021.

Recently, emerging evidence has demonstrated that liraglutide treatment effectively reduces the severity of metabolic syndrome, as well as abdominal obesity and inflammation. Semaglutide also demonstrated significant beneficial effects, particularly in reducing inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in animal studies. These anti-inflammatory actions target diverse pathways across various tissues. Additionally, both liraglutide and semaglutide exhibit favorable effects on NAFLD and its progressive form, NASH, highlighting the potential preventive and therapeutic benefits of GLP-1R against NAFLD. Moreover, studies have indicated the lipid-lowering, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-hypertensive properties of this drug class.

However, their use and benefits in preventing T2DM and treating metabolic syndrome and other metabolic-related disorders, such as NAFLD/NASH, and CVD remain unclear. This research topic aims to collect and publish the recent evidence and current knowledge and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of incretin-based agonists in treating metabolic syndrome beyond their role of treating obesity. Of interest are liraglutide, exenatide, dulaglutide, semaglutide, and retatrutide. It also considers current findings about incretin-based agonists as a treatment for prediabetic patients.

We invite submissions across various research domains, including but not limited to:

• Clinical trials and experimental studies investigating the long-term effects of incretin-based agonists on metabolic syndrome.
• Safety and efficacy assessments of incretin-based agonists in metabolic syndrome management
• Exploring the role of incretin-based agonists in preventing and treating NAFLD/NASH and cardio-renal diseases
• Molecular insights into the action of incretin-based agonists and their potential in attenuating inflammatory responses

We welcome contributions in the form of review papers, basic science research, clinical trials, and short communications, aimed at enriching our understanding of incretin-based agonists in metabolic syndrome. Join us in advancing the frontier of metabolic syndrome research by shedding light on the multifaceted role of incretin-based agonists beyond conventional obesity management.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Incretin; Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1); Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R); Obesity; Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); Metabolic syndrome; NAFLD/NASH, Inflammation.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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