Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist ameliorates renal injury through its anti-inflammatory action without lowering blood glucose level in a rat model of type 1 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has various extra-pancreatic actions, in addition to its enhancement of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. The GLP-1 receptor is produced in kidney tissue. However, the direct effect of GLP-1 on diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that a GLP-1 receptor agonist, exendin-4, exerts renoprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory action via the GLP-1 receptor without lowering blood glucose.