Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist on insulin secretion index and serum Wnt5a protein in patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective Previous studies have found that wnt5a promotes beta-cell insulin secretion and reduced concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1RA (Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) can regulate insulin secretion. However, the evidence that GLP-1RA affect insulin secretion through the Wnt5a is inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of GLP-1 RA on wnt5a levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods A total of 56 onset diabetics were selected our study, 29 of them were treated by GLP-1RAs (1.2mg subcutaneous injection once a day, liraglutide, Novo Nordisk), the rest (27 case) treated by Metformin (0.5 g twice a day, Glucophage, Merck). Individuals who were using medications to manage platelet (Aspirin) and cholesterol (Statins) were enrolled and continued treatment throughout the study.Results Our study found that the waist circumference and insulin secretion index in the GLP-1RA intervention group were significantly increased, and the insulin resistance index was lower than that of the control group. More interestingly, the serum Wnt5a protein level increased dramatically after the GLP-1RA intervention, and the level of Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) decreased compared with the control group. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the change of HOMA-beta (Homeostasis model assessment-beta) was significantly correlated with the changes of Wnt5a and Sfrp5, and the change of Wnt5a protein was positively correlated with HOMA-beta.Conclusion Our results confirmed that GLP-1RA may improve HOMA-beta in patients with type 2 diabetes by affecting the level of Wnt5a protein.