Abstract
AIMS: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors are widely used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and exhibit beneficial cardiovascular effects beyond glucose lowering. In this study, we investigated their potential to alleviate vaso-occlusive events and organ damage in sickle cell disease (SCD) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intravital and immunofluorescence microscopy reveal that a 4-day oral administration of dapagliflozin (DAPA) or sotagliflozin (SOTA) significantly reduces neutrophil adhesion and transmigration in cremaster venules, with SOTA showing greater inhibition, and down-regulates E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in cremaster venules of TNF-α-challenged SCD mice. Intriguingly, only SOTA improves mouse survival acutely. Similar inhibitory effects on neutrophil recruitment are observed in SCD mice subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation. Flow chamber assays indicate that neither drug directly affects neutrophil or endothelial cell adhesive function. In addition, treatment of neutrophils and platelets from SCD mice and patients with DAPA or SOTA does not affect their activation. When administered for 4 months, DAPA or SOTA mitigates neutrophil recruitment and enhances microcirculation in cremaster venules of TNF-α-challenged SCD mice, while only SOTA confers a survival benefit. Both drugs reduce leucocyte infiltration in the liver or lungs, suggesting their ability to protect against organ damage. Co-administration with hydroxyurea for 4 months does not enhance these effects. Multiplex analysis shows that DAPA and SOTA lower plasma levels of soluble P-selectin, ICAM-1, S100A8/A9, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in SCD mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DAPA and SOTA mitigate vaso-occlusive events in SCD, with SOTA providing superior benefits.