Anti-inflammatory potential of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, in rats with peripheral acute inflammation

The present study aimed to explore the possible anti-inflammatory actions of liraglutide (LRG), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, and to compare with tramadol (TR) or LRG, and TR combination treatment by investigating the inflammatory signs such as pain hypersensitivity, edema, and fever in carrageenan (CG)-induced acute peripheral inflammation model in rats. The levels of several biomarkers for inflammatory status, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress were also measured in inflamed tissues. CG induced inflammation in the paws of rats identified by hypersensitivities, redness, edema and fever. LRG, significantly improved the hypersensitivity to mechanical (from 4 to 35.5 g) or cold (from 5 to 44.2 s) stimuli, reduced the edema (paw mass, from 2.54 to 1.85 g), and fever (paw temperature, from 33.6 to 27.3 °C). LRG dramatically suppressed the inflammatory signs when compared to those of TR. In addition, co-administration of TR and LRG resulted in further reduction of sensitivity to mechanical and cold stimuli. Anti-inflammatory potential of LRG altered depending on their inhibitory effects in the biomarkers of inflamed paws. Consequently, the suppressive actions of LRG in the inflammation induced hypersensitivities, edema, and fever, indicating that these drugs have significant anti-inflammatory potential with anti-hypersensitivities, anti-edema, and anti-pyretic effects. LRG with anti-inflammatory actions may be a highly promising therapeutic option for the management of inflammatory conditions or inflammatory-related various diseases.