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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mark Walker
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Background: In the treatment of type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists lower blood glucose concentrations, body weight, and have cardiovascular benefits. The efficacy and side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists vary between people. Human pharmacogenomic studies of this inter-individual variation can provide both biological insight into drug action and provide biomarkers to inform clinical decision making. We therefore aimed to identify genetic variants associated with glycaemic response to GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment. Methods: In this genome-wide analysis we included adults (aged ≥18 years) with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists with baseline HbA1c of 7% or more (53 mmol/mol) from four prospective observational cohorts (DIRECT, PRIBA, PROMASTER, and GoDARTS) and two randomised clinical trials (HARMONY phase 3 and AWARD). The primary endpoint was HbA1c reduction at 6 months after starting GLP-1 receptor agonists. We evaluated variants in GLP1R, then did a genome-wide association study and gene-based burden tests. Findings: 4571 adults were included in our analysis, of these, 3339 (73%) were White European, 449 (10%) Hispanic, 312 (7%) American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 471 (10%) were other, and around 2140 (47%) of the participants were women. Variation in HbA1c reduction with GLP-1 receptor agonists treatment was associated with rs6923761G→A (Gly168Ser) in the GLP1R (0·08% [95% CI 0·04–0·12] or 0·9 mmol/mol lower reduction in HbA1c per serine, p=6·0 × 10−5) and low frequency variants in ARRB1 (optimal sequence kernel association test p=6·7 × 10−8), largely driven by rs140226575G→A (Thr370Met; 0·25% [SE 0·06] or 2·7 mmol/mol [SE 0·7] greater HbA1c reduction per methionine, p=5·2 × 10−6). A similar effect size for the ARRB1 Thr370Met was seen in Hispanic and American Indian or Alaska Native populations who have a higher frequency of this variant (6–11%) than in White European populations. Combining these two genes identified 4% of the population who had a 30% greater reduction in HbA1c than the 9% of the population with the worse response. Interpretation: This genome-wide pharmacogenomic study of GLP-1 receptor agonists provides novel biological and clinical insights. Clinically, when genotype is routinely available at the point of prescribing, individuals with ARRB1 variants might benefit from earlier initiation of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Funding: Innovative Medicines Initiative and the Wellcome Trust
Author(s): Mari A, Brown A, McDonald TJ, Li L, Wang S, Hong M-G, Sharma S, Robertson NR, Mahajan A, Wang X, Walker M, Gough S, Hart LM', Zhou K, Ruetten H, Pavo I, Bhatnagar P, Jones AG, Pearson ER, for the DIRECT consortium
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology
Year: 2023
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 33-41
Print publication date: 01/01/2023
Online publication date: 15/12/2022
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
Date deposited: 04/01/2023
ISSN (print): 2213-8587
ISSN (electronic): 2213-8595
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00340-0
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00340-0
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