HMGCR and Rosuvastatin Regulates GLP-1 Secretion and Expression-A Translational Study

Context: Statin use is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and mild hyperglycemia. The underlying mechanisms are not well studied, and the effect of statin treatment on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion or production is unknown. Objective: This work aimed to assess the effects of rosuvastatin on GLP-1 secretion and production. Methods: We performed association studies in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study cardiovascular cohort (MDCS-CC) reexamination cohort, in vitro investigations using GLUTag cells and acute and chronic studies in female, normoglycemic C57Bl/6j mice. Results: Studies in the MDCS-CC reexamination cohort (n = 3734) revealed that in individuals without T2D, statin usage was associated with higher fasting glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), insulin, glucose, glucagon, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, but not GLP-1. However, in patients with T2D, statin usage was associated with higher fasting GLP-1 levels. Rosuvastatin treatment or 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr) knockdown (KD) reduced GLP-1 secretion and increased Gcg messenger RNA in GLUTag cells. Rosuvastatin acutely reduced postprandial GLP-1 secretion, whereas chronic rosuvastatin treatment in mice caused hyperglycemia and increased postprandial GLP-1 levels. The acute effect of Hmgcr KD on GLP-1 secretion could be mimicked by targeting intracellular cholesterol using a PCSK9 inhibitor. Finally, transcriptomic alterations induced by rosuvastatin were limited to genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis. Conclusion: We have established HMGCR as a regulator of GLP-1 secretion and provide a plausible explanation for the clinically observed mild hyperglycemia associated with statin use. Given the negative acute effect on GLP-1 secretion, monitoring of blood glucose levels is recommended after prescribing rosuvastatin.