Anti-inflammatory and direct antifibrotic effect of the oral hepatotropic DPP4 inhibitor Linagliptin in model of bilary fibrosis and NASH

Background and aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) ischaracterized by steatosis, lobular inflammation and progressive pericellular fibrosis. Anti-inflammatory and especially antifibrotic therapies for NASH are urgently needed. The incretin glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is rapidly inactivated by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), an enzyme produced by various cells, including intestinal epithelia and hepatocytes. Therefore we studied the effect of the indirect GLP-1 agonist Linagliptin, a DPP4-inhibitor, on hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in models of biliary fibrosis and NASH. Methods: Linagliptin was ad…