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Pharmacogenetics of novel glucose-lowering drugs

Diabetologia volume 64, pages 1201–1212 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this work was to review studies in which genetic variants were assessed with respect to metabolic response to treatment with novel glucose-lowering drugs: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). In total, 22 studies were retrieved from the literature (MEDLINE). Variants of the GLP-1 receptor gene (GLP1R) were associated with a smaller reduction in HbA1c in response to DPP-4i. Variants of a number of other genes (KCNQ1, KCNJ11, CTRB1/2, PRKD1, CDKAL1, IL6 promoter region, TCF7L2, DPP4, PNPLA3) have also been related to DPP-4i response, although replication studies are lacking. The GLP1R gene was also reported to play a role in the response to GLP-1 RA, with larger weight reductions being reported in carriers of GLP1R variant alleles. There were variants of a few other genes (CNR1, TCF7L2, SORCS1) described to be related to GLP-1 RA. For SGLT2i, studies have focused on genes affecting renal glucose reabsorption (e.g. SLC5A2) but no relationship between SLC5A2 variants and response to empagliflozin has been found. The relevance of the included studies is limited due to small genetic effects, low sample sizes, limited statistical power, inadequate statistics (lack of gene–drug interactions), inadequate accounting for confounders and effects modifiers, and a lack of replication studies. Most studies have been based on candidate genes. Genome-wide association studies, in that respect, may be a more promising approach to providing novel insights. However, the identification of distinct subgroups of type 2 diabetes might also be necessary before pharmacogenetic studies can be successfully used for a stratified prescription of novel glucose-lowering drugs.

Graphical abstract

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Introduction

There is a considerable variation of the interindividual response to glucose-lowering drugs in people with type 2 diabetes [1]. The hope is that genetic variants can be used to explain these therapeutic differences and can be used to stratify subgroups that respond particularly well to specific drug therapies for type 2 diabetes [1]. For example, pharmacogenetic studies have reported clinically relevant effects for a genetic variant of GLUT2 in response to treatment with metformin [2, 3]. The C allele of the SNP rs8192675 of the SLC2A2 gene that encodes GLUT2 was related to a 3.6 mmol/mol (0.33%) greater reduction in HbA1c (CC vs TT alleles) in users of metformin monotherapy (equivalent to a metformin dose difference of 550 mg) [2]. In addition, in individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes being treated with metformin monotherapy, having at least one C allele was associated with a greater reduction in multivariable-adjusted fasting blood glucose in the first year after diabetes diagnosis compared with individuals without a C allele (6.3 vs 3.9 mmol/l; genotype difference 2.4 mmol/l) [3]. Moreover, the difference between genotypes in individuals treated with metformin was statistically significantly larger than that in people not treated with glucose-lowering drugs (p value for interaction <0.01) [3]. Similar reports exist of genetic variants interfering with metabolic responses to treatment with sulfonylureas and meglitinides [4].

The field of pharmacogenetics is still emerging and there remains a lack of studies on the role of gene variants in treatment effects of novel glucose-lowering drugs, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) [5]. The present review will focus on gene variants related to metabolic responses to these novel agents, including glycaemic effects, diabetes-related metabolic traits and body-weight changes. Mainly, studies in people with type 2 diabetes will be reviewed, although important studies in people without diabetes will also be considered. We carried out a narrative (not a systematic) review because a first investigation of the current literature showed only a few eligible studies with largely different populations and few replications of study findings. Therefore, a meta-analysis would not be possible.

The pathophysiological basis for the therapeutic action of these novel agents has been extensively covered in previous reviews [6, 7] and will not be described here. Although of importance, adverse drug reactions will not be a topic of discussion either, because this requires an in-depth overview of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which is beyond the scope of the current work [8].

Heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes

The heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes is a major challenge throughout the entire field of diabetes research. Recently, there have been attempts to categorise different phenotypes of type 2 diabetes [9,10,11]. First, the so-called ‘palette model’ attempted to explain the heterogeneity of people with diabetes by using a spectrum of factors that contribute to the individual risk of type 2 diabetes, including pancreatic islet development, number of islets and beta cells, islet function and autoimmunity, and incretin activity, as well as obesity, body fat distribution and insulin resistance [9]. Phenotypes were then categorised by individual (genetic) variations of these traits in a person and their associations with risk factors [9].

Another approach involved a data-driven cluster analysis to classify five diabetes subgroups with differing disease progression and risk of complications [10, 11]. Moreover, genetic differences between these diabetes clusters have been described. The severe autoimmune diabetes cluster was strongly associated with variants of the HLA locus, similar to type 1 diabetes [10]. The non-autoimmune severe insulin-deficient diabetes cluster showed an association with a variant of the TCF7L2 gene, a locus which shows one of the strongest genetic associations with type 2 diabetes risk [10]. The severe insulin-resistant diabetes cluster was not associated with any of these genetic features [10]. So far, none of the above approaches to distinguish different diabetes phenotypes have been used in pharmacogenetic studies.

The statistical method of latent class analysis has been used in an attempt to identify different subgroups of diabetes [10, 11]. This methodology may benefit pharmacogenetic studies as was shown previously for heart failure [12]. In the Eplerenone in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure and Mild Symptoms (EMPHASIS-HF) trial, 2279 people with heart failure were randomised to receive either eplerenone (an aldosterone receptor blocker) or placebo [12]. Based on a latent class analysis using routinely available clinical variables, four subgroups with a different response to eplerenone treatment were identified. Two of the subgroups derived a larger benefit from eplerenone in the EMPHASIS-HF trial, whereas the other two groups demonstrated a higher rate of eplerenone side effects (hyperkalaemia) and drug discontinuation [12]. These findings may not only help to generate hypotheses on why some individuals respond differently to treatment but also can be a starting point to analyse potential genetic associations with treatment efficacy in distinct subgroups.

Still, it remains important to realise that type 2 diabetes is a heterogenous polygenic disease [1] with many different interacting patient characteristics influencing disease progression and treatment success. Thus, although a study may report for example an improved glycaemic response to a specific drug in a subgroup of individuals that carry a particular SNP, most likely in clinical practice various patient characteristics, including obesity, metabolic risk factors and lifestyle, may dilute the observed effect of the particular SNP. Hence, the integration of pharmacogenetic principles into precision diabetology will likely be highly complex [1]. Predictions of drug efficacy will therefore have a given degree of uncertainty and will need to take into account various metabolic and behavioural factors.

Pharmacogenetic studies of novel glucose-lowering drugs

A MEDLINE literature search for pharmacogenetic studies was conducted independently by the two authors from database inception up to 12 August 2020, by using a predefined search algorithm (see electronic supplementary material [ESM] Methods: Search strategy). We did not apply any restrictions or filters. Out of the 2663 identified articles, 37 duplicates were removed and titles and abstracts of the remaining 2626 publications were scanned. To identify further relevant articles, we also screened the reference lists of included articles. Finally, 12 published studies on DPP-4i, six on GLP-1 RA and four on SGLT2i were included. The characteristics and main results of these pharmacogenetic studies are summarised in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Table 1 Genotypes associated with response to treatment of type 2 diabetes with DPP-4i
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Table 2 Genotypes associated with response to treatment of type 2 diabetes with GLP-1-RA
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Table 3 Genotypes associated with response to treatment of type 2 diabetes with SGLT2i
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In the following text, we, describe which genes have been associated with therapeutic responses to each of the three newest glucose-lowering drugs. Then, after summarising the main findings we highlight important limitations of the currently available studies.

DPP-4i

GLP1R

The GLP1R gene encodes the receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a peptide hormone expressed in pancreatic beta cells [13]. Activation of the GLP-1 receptor facilitates a glucose-stimulated insulin secretion [13]. It has been hypothesised that genetic alterations of the GLP-1 receptor may change the therapeutic response to DPP-4i. In fact, a variant in the GLP1R gene (rs6923761; p.Gly168Ser) was found to be associated with a smaller reduction in HbA1c (by 3.0 mmol/mol [0.27%] per A allele) in individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin, vildagliptin or linagliptin for 6 months [14]. This study confirmed an earlier report that this particular gene variant was related to a smaller HbA1c reduction during 6 months of gliptin treatment [15]. Another variant in the GLP1R gene (rs3765467; p.Arg131Gln) was reported to be linked to an insulinotropic effect [16]. People with type 2 diabetes with the A allele (GA/AA vs GG) responded better to therapy with DPP-4i (>10% relative HbA1c reduction) and showed a greater HbA1c decrease after 24 weeks of therapy (1.3 ± 1.1 vs 0.9 ± 1.2%; p = 0.02) [16].

Potassium channel gene family

Potassium voltage-gated KQT-like (KCNQ1) channels play a role in the intestinal secretion of GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and polymorphisms in the gene coding for these channels have been linked to type 2 diabetes through a role in insulin release [17]. A variant in KCNQ1 (rs163184) was found to be associated with a smaller reduction in HbA1c after 6 months of newly onset DPP-4i therapy in type 2 diabetes patients (0.3% reduction in response per each G allele) [18]. This study indicated a clinically relevant pharmacogenetic effect, although persistence of the effect was not assessed due to lack of a longer follow-up of HbA1c values.

The KCNJ11 gene regulates one of the pancreatic beta cell ATP-sensitive potassium channels, that play a role in insulin secretion [19]. After sitagliptin, vildagliptin or linagliptin therapy (≥3 months), individuals with type 2 diabetes and who carried the KCNJ11 rs2285676 CC alleles had a twofold higher odds of responding to DPP-4i, defined as HbA1c ≤53.0 mmol/mol (7.0%), than other individuals [20].

CTRB1/CTRB2

A SNP (rs7202877) that is located near genes that encode chymotrypsinogen B1 and B2 (CTRB1/CTRB2), with no known functional effect, is related to GLP-1-stimulated insulin secretion [21]. The rs7202877 GG and GT genotypes were associated with a 5.5 mmol/mol (0.5%) smaller reduction in HbA1c compared with the TT genotype after 3 months of gliptin therapy [21]. The genetic variant was shown to be associated with GLP-1-induced insulin secretion. CTRB1/2 encodes chymotrypsin, and the G allele was also associated with increased chymotrypsin levels in the pancreas and faeces [21]. Thus, chymotrypsin may be important for the response to DPP-4i treatment.

PRKD1

The serine/threonine protein kinase D1 enzyme, encoded by PRKD1, plays a role in various processes such as the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, immune reactions, cardiac contraction, angiogenesis and cancer development. Furthermore, the enzyme has been shown to contribute to insulin secretion [22]. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) found that in people with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin, saxagliptin, vildagliptin or linagliptin, a polymorphism in PRKD1 (rs57803087; intron variant) was associated with a greater response to the DPP-4i [23]. In a replication cohort, rs57803087 remained significantly associated with a better DPP-4i response after controlling for BMI [23]. However, the results of this small GWAS (n = 171) need to be replicated in a larger sample and the lacking information on the association of specific risk alleles should be provided.

CDKAL1

GWAS revealed relationships between several SNPs in CDKAL1, encoding cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1-like 1 (CDKAL1), and type 2 diabetes risk [24]. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5, which shares similarities with CDKAL1, is a serine/threonine protein kinase, which contributes to the glucose-dependent regulation of insulin secretion [25]. In individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with DPP-4i, the HbA1c reduction after 6 months varied according to two CDKAL1 SNPs (rs7754840, G>C, intron variant; rs756992, A>G) [24]. The HbA1c decrease was greater in people who carried at least one variant allele in comparison with two copies of the common allele (for rs7754840, GG 4.4 mmol/mol [0.4%], CG 5.5 mmol/mol [0.5%] and CC 8.7 mmol/mol [0.8%], p = 0.02; for rs7756992, AA 4.4 mmol/mol [0.4%], AG 5.5 mmol/mol [0.5%] and GG 8.7 mmol/mol [0.8%], p = 0.01) [24]. The differences persisted after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, diabetes duration, baseline HbA1c and the number of concomitant glucose-lowering drugs in a linear regression analysis [24]. Thus, people with CDKAL1 type 2 diabetes risk variants showed a better glycaemic response to DPP-4i.

IL6 promoter region

IL-6, derived from muscle cells during exercise, was shown to enhance intestinal GLP-1 secretion in animal models [26]. It has been hypothesised that genetic variants that upregulate IL6 transcription might also increase GLP-1 synthesis and secretion in humans [27]. In people with type 2 diabetes, DPP-4i treatment response (3 months) was defined as a ≥2.2 mmol/mol (0.2%) HbA1c decrease (about 70% responders) [27]. Two IL6 SNPs were then analysed (rs1800796, intron variant; rs2097677) and multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted OR for DPP-4i non-response of the two SNPs combined (rs1800796 G* and rs2097677 A* vs CC-GG) was 0.45 (p = 0.07). After stratifying the population into low (n = 149) and moderate/high (n = 167) levels of physical activity, the OR for each group was 1.58 (p = 0.62) and 0.15 (p < 0.01), respectively [27]. These data suggest that IL6 variants might contribute to an improved DPP-4i response in people who are more physically active.

TCF7L2

Variation in the TCF7L2 gene has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes [28]. There are several hypotheses as to how the TCF7L2 gene product, transcription factor 7-like 2, exerts its effects on the gut, liver or pancreatic beta cells [28]. TCF7L2 variant alleles impact GLP-1-induced insulin secretion, suggesting a functional defect in pancreatic GLP-1 signalling [29]. After genotyping TCF7L2 variants in participants with type 2 diabetes undergoing phase 3 trials with 24 weeks of treatment with linagliptin, a smaller decrease in HbA1c was observed in individuals with the rs7903146 TT genotype (6.2 mmol/mol [0.57%]) compared with other genotypes (9.0 mmol/mol [0.82%] for CC; 8.4 mmol/mol [0.77%] for CT; p = 0.02 for TT vs CC genotypes) [30]. Thus, the TCF7L2 SNP rs7903146 may be associated with lower response to incretins.

DPP4

DPP-4i bind to the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme to enhance GLP-1 activity [31]. The efficacy of DPP-4i could be affected by DPP4 gene variants [31]. This hypothesis was investigated in a small study comparing people with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment with sitagliptin (100 mg/day or 200 mg/day) with healthy control individuals [32]. In regression analysis, DPP4 genotype rs2909451 (intron variant) TT was associated with increased short-term DPP-4 enzyme activity during sitagliptin treatment in the whole sample (standardised regression coefficient, 0.19 nmol ml−1 min−1; p = 0.04) [32].

PNPLA3

Variants in the PNPLA3 gene, encoding patatin-like phospholipase 3 (PNPLA3), are related to increased plasma levels of hepatic NEFA and triacylglycerols [33, 34]. A genetic variant (rs738409) of PNPLA3 was associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its histological severity in GWAS [33]. In a small study of people with biopsy-proven NAFLD and type 2 diabetes treated with alogliptin (25 mg/day; median follow-up 33 months), participants with the rs738409 G allele showed a positive correlation between temporal changes in HbA1c and aminotransferase levels (CG/GG and alanine aminotransferase: r = 0.52; p = 0.001) [34]. In addition, in participants who lost weight, those with CG and GG genotypes showed greater improvements in total cholesterol and triacylglycerols, and similar improvement in HbA1c [34]. Thus, the effects of alogliptin (and possibly other DPP4i) on liver function in type 2 diabetes and NAFLD may differ by PNPLA3 genotypes.

GLP-1 RA

GLP1R

SNPs around the exon region of the GLP1R gene were genotyped in a small sample of people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, who received exenatide for 3 days (5 μg twice daily) and were also treated with a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [35]. The CT/TT genotypes of rs761386 (intron variant) were related to higher glucose levels at 120 min of a 75 g OGTT (p = 0.032). Insulin and C-peptide throughout the OGTT were not significantly different between the genotypes. Unfortunately, data on the long-term effects, in particular on HbA1c, are lacking.

Two further studies from Spain [36] and China [37] explored the relationship between GLP1R variants and weight loss in type 2 diabetes. The study from Spain included individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and who were overweight, who began liraglutide treatment up to 1.8 mg/day for 14 weeks [36]. The GLP1R rs6923761 (non-coding) A allele (GA/AA vs GG) was associated with a 2.9 kg larger weight reduction after liraglutide treatment in multivariable analysis [36]. The decreases in basal glucose levels, HOMA-IR and HbA1c were similar in both groups. In a hospital-based Chinese study including obese individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, the variant T allele of GLP1R rs10305420 (amino acid change: Pro to Leu) was associated with a smaller reduction in HbA1c (4.4 mmol/mol [0.4%]) and body weight (−1.3 kg) after 6 months of exenatide treatment [37]. It is unclear whether these genetic associations would be of the same magnitude in people with type 2 diabetes who were of normal body weight.

CNR1

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in appetite and body-weight regulation [38]. The cannabinoid type 1 receptor, encoded by the CNR1 gene, is located in adipose tissue and in several brain areas [38]. In obese people with type 2 diabetes stratified by CNR1 genotypes (GA and AA genotypes vs GG genotypes), glucose, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity, BMI, body weight, waist circumference and fat mass were measured before and after 14 weeks of liraglutide treatment [39]. Among metabolic markers, insulin resistance was found to decrease in individuals carrying the variant CNR1 A allele. However, liraglutide therapy resulted in comparable improvements of anthropometric measures and glycaemic markers in all CNR1 genotypes [39].

TCF7L2

In a small pharmacogenetic study, individuals with type 2 diabetes and the TCF7L2 rs7903146 CC genotype were matched with individuals with CT and TT genotypes and similar diabetes duration and BMI [40]. Participants received a 500 kcal (2092 kJ) mixed-meal test and treatment with exenatide for 8 weeks [40]. The rs7903146 (intron variant) T allele was associated with higher secretion of insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide in response to the mixed meal [40]. After exenatide treatment, T allele carriers showed lower postprandial plasma insulin and C-peptide levels compared with non-carriers. The data suggest that use of GLP-1 RA could play a role in beta cell function in individuals with the rs7903146 CT and TT genotypes. However, no difference between genotype was observed for plasma glucose values during the meal tests after exenatide treatment; the same was true for HbA1c and body-weight reduction [40].

SORCS1

Sortilin related VPS10 domain containing receptor 1 (SORCS1) is expressed in the brain, heart, kidney and pancreatic islets, and in beta cell lines [41]. SORCS1 belongs to the sortilin family of vacuolar protein sorting-10 domain-containing proteins and has been genetically linked to Alzheimer’s disease [42]. SORCS1 haplotypes were associated with higher fasting insulin levels and insulin secretion in non-diabetic obese women but not in men or lean individuals [41]. In persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes treated with exenatide for 48 weeks, stratifying for SORCS1 rs1416406 genotypes, revealed differences in HbA1c, glucose values and beta cell function between the genotype groups (GG, GA, AA) following treatment [43]. However, only the proinsulin/insulin ratio (PIR) showed a greater reduction in people with the GG genotype vs other genotypes and this difference persisted after adjusting for age, sex and BMI in regression analysis [43]. The reduced PIR suggests that people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and the rs1416406 GG genotype might benefit from exenatide treatment.

SGLT2i

SLC5A2

The sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) protein, which contributes to renal glucose reabsorption, is encoded by the SLC5A2 gene [44]. Several rare mutations of this gene result in familial renal glucosuria [44]. Therefore, variants in the SLC5A2 pose a promising target for pharmacogenetic research. So far, only one study has investigated the association between SLC5A2 gene variants (intron variants) and the glycaemic effects of SGLT2i therapy [44]. Between five common gene variants, no clinically relevant differences in response to empagliflozin treatment after 24 weeks were observed in type 2 diabetes [44]. Moreover, these variants were not associated with diabetes-related metabolic traits in people at increased risk of type 2 diabetes [44].

PNPLA3

PNPLA3 is expressed in liver and adipose tissue and mediates triacylglycerol hydrolysis [45]. A PNPLA3 variant has been identified as a risk factor for steatohepatitis [45]. A 12 week randomised clinical trial investigated the effects of a combination of dapagliflozin and n-3 carboxylic acids on the hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in people with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD [46]. Baseline liver PDFF was lower in individuals with the PNPLA3 rs738409 (p.Ile148Met) CC genotype (median 17%) than in those with the CG and GG genotype (20%). In response to the combination therapy, the relative PDFF reduction was greater in individuals with the CG and GG genotypes (relative change, −25%) than in those with the CC genotype (−16%). The relative change in PDFF observed following dapagliflozin monotherapy differed from that seen with the combination therapy (CG and GG, +7%; CC, −22%) [46].

UGT1A9

Canagliflozin is mainly metabolised by uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A9 and UGT2B4 into inactive glucuronides [47]. In vitro studies suggested that UGT1A9 gene variants result in an alteration of UGT enzymatic activity [47]. Therefore, variants in the UGT genes could potentially influence the pharmacokinetics of canagliflozin or other SGLT2i [47, 48]. A pharmacokinetic model of canagliflozin based on data from 14 clinical trials showed that carriers of the rare UGT1A9*3 allele showed 26% higher median dose-normalised AUC values for canagliflozin, indicating a better drug availability [47]. A smaller study based on phase 1 clinical trials confirmed the role of UGT genes in canagliflozin metabolism, with higher plasma canagliflozin levels being observed in carriers of the UGT2B4*2 genotype compared with non-carriers [48]. However, because of the small number of individuals with this gene variant in those with diabetes these findings may not be clinically relevant.

Summary of studies, and limitations

The small number of studies, thus far, that report associations between genetic variants and response to novel glucose-lowering drug treatment have focused on glycaemic response (e.g. HbA1c) and changes in body weight. With respect to DPP-4i and GLP-1 RA, most studies of gene variants have focused on the drug’s metabolic pathways (e.g. variants of GLP1R) and variants of genes involved in intestinal GLP-1 secretion (e.g. KCNQ1). The few studies on GLP1R variants indicated a reduced glycaemic response to treatment with both DPP-4i and GLP-1 RA. Conflicting results for GLP1R gene variants were found for body weight changes under GLP-1 RA therapy. Other studies have examined SNPs in genes that are implicated in the development of diabetes by affecting pathophysiological defects such as beta cell failure (e.g. TCF7L2 and CDKAL1). For these genes, reductions in HbA1c in response to DPP-4i therapy have been reported to be greater for CDKAL1 variants and smaller for TCF7L2 variants.

SGLT2i reduce blood glucose concentrations via inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption, a mechanism that is not related to type 2 diabetes aetiology. Therefore, genetic variants related to the development of diabetes are not likely to affect the response to SGLT2i therapy. Most studies have focused on examining genes affecting renal glucose reabsorption (e.g. SLC5A2). However, the few data available indicate no clinically relevant differences between SLC5A2 variants in response to SGLT2i treatment. In addition, variants of genes potentially involved in the pharmacokinetics of SGLT2i were found to have no clinically relevant effects on therapeutic response.

The relevance of the currently available pharmacogenetic studies is largely hampered by small genetic effects, low sample sizes, limited statistical power, often inadequate statistics (e.g. lack of gene–drug interactions in models), inadequate account of confounders and effects modifiers (e.g. obesity, comorbidity), limited comparability due to different study designs, study populations and definitions of study outcomes, and a lack of replication studies. Therefore, more well-designed studies with a sufficiently large sample size and well-characterised diabetes phenotypes are required to investigate and replicate the effect of genetic variants on the metabolic response to novel glucose-lowering drugs. A major limitation of the current studies is that most findings have not been replicated. Currently, the replication of results for relevant gene variants is more important than producing new findings. When possible, meta-analysis across studies should be undertaken to provide robust evidence for associations.

This review also indicates that genetic studies on drug response to DPP-4i, GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes have been mainly based on candidate genes, derived from aetiological processes or drug pathways. Overall, the degree of insight provided by these studies is rather limited. GWAS, on the other hand, have the potential to provide novel insights, as these studies make no assumptions about drug mechanisms or underlying disease processes [1]. Only GWAS of metformin have been reported to date [2, 49].

In conclusion, the amount and level of evidence of the current research results are not sufficient to guide stratified prescription use of novel glucose-lowering drugs in type 2 diabetes.

Outlook

We provide an outlook on future perspectives of pharmacogenetics in type 2 diabetes. First, we indicate which novel topics will likely turn out to be more important in pharmacogenetic studies of glucose-lowering drugs (e.g. the microbiome composition and its effect on drug metabolism) and then we elaborate on how the identification of distinct subgroups of diabetes could advance pharmacogenetic research. Finally, we add some lessons learnt from monogenic diabetes that can be applied to the field of pharmacogenetics and we conclude by highlighting various aspects that may advance the future of precision diabetology of type 2 diabetes.

Novel topics in pharmacogenetic studies

Genetic heterogeneity due to ethnic background may explain why the associations between polymorphisms and therapy response differ between populations. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications that regulate how genes involved in the metabolism of glucose-lowering drugs are expressed in different populations may also have contributed to heterogenous findings. It is also worth noting that heritable DNA variants are only one approach for identifying different responses to glucose-lowering drugs. This approach should be complemented by other analyses including targeted and non-targeted metabolomics and proteomics. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms provide tools to analyse and gain insight into this vast amount of data (computational diabetology). Furthermore, the gut microbiome is known not only to play a role in metabolism but also to modify certain drug effects (e.g. by altering drug pharmacokinetics or even inactivating drugs) [50]. Thus, clinical studies to investigate the impact of different microbiome compositions on response to, and side effects of, glucose-lowering drugs are needed in order to advance personalised medicine. Finally, another limitation of current pharmacogenetic studies in diabetes is the implication of a single pathogenic gene, or a limited number of pathogenic genes. Thus, studies only identify small genomic regions that may contribute to the heterogeneity of drug response. Yet, in complex disorders such as type 2 diabetes, genetic heterogeneity of multiple different genomic regions is the likely scenario. Deep phenotyping and genotyping approaches are required to identify genetic networks involved in drug response. Thus, pharmacogenetics, the application of a single genetic variant to describe an alteration in drug effect, needs to be extended to pharmacogenomics, a broader application of the genome, to predict response to glucose-lowering medications.

Subgroups of diabetes

Untangling the heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes will most likely improve pharmacogenetic studies. For example, a data-driven cluster analysis was able to identify five diabetes subgroups with distinct phenotypes, risk of complications and genetic associations [10, 11]. These subgroups were comprised of individuals with predominately insulin deficiency or with insulin resistance [10]. In turn, low beta cell function has been shown to be associated with reduced glycaemic response to GLP-1 RA [51] and higher insulin resistance was associated with reduced glycaemic response to DPP-4i [52]. Thus, reducing phenotypic heterogeneity by characterisation of type 2 diabetes subgroups with predominately insulin deficiency or insulin secretion may be a good starting point to further study the associations between genetic markers and glycaemic response to novel glucose-lowering drugs.

Lessons from monogenic diabetes

A strategy to advance pharmacogenetic progress in diabetology is to reduce heterogeneity in patient populations with type 2 diabetes. This strategy has already been proven successful for studies on drug effects in monogenic diabetes, including MODY and neonatal diabetes [1]. The most common cause of MODY are mutations in the gene encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1A). A small, randomised crossover trial demonstrated that people with genetically defined HNF1A diabetes not only had a fivefold greater glycaemic response to gliclazide (a sulfonylurea) than to metformin therapy but also an almost fourfold greater response to gliclazide than people with type 2 diabetes [53]. This dramatic pharmacogenetic finding has resulted in a specific treatment algorithm for HNF1A MODY [1]. Rare neonatal forms of diabetes that develop within the first year of life are often caused by mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, which encodes a subunit of the pancreatic potassium channel that tightly regulates insulin secretion by beta cells [54]. In individuals with diabetes caused by KCNJ11 mutations the sensitivity of these potassium channels was decreased, thereby reducing insulin secretion in the presence of glucose. Sulfonylureas have been shown to promote insulin secretion in these individuals by closing the potassium channels and have been proposed as a safe and more effective replacement of insulin therapy [54].

Precision drug treatment

In the future, genetic information from individuals with type 2 diabetes may be usefully combined with other clinical markers to guide a stratified prescription of the most effective glucose-lowering therapy for a particular person [55]. Both single SNP and genetic scores may be useful in this respect, as are non-genetic traits. An example relevant to precision drug treatment is a recent study showing that non-genetic markers of insulin resistance were related to glycaemic response to DPP-4i [52]. In this cohort study from the UK, a subgroup (22% of the study population) had type 2 diabetes and were obese and had high triacylglycerol levels [52]. This metabolic subgroup showed both a reduced short-term glycaemic response as well as a reduced long-term efficacy of DPP-4i treatment. Interestingly, with respect to GLP-1 RA there was no evidence of an association between clinical markers of insulin resistance and either 6 month glycaemic effects or durability of response for up to 3 years [52]. In the future, genetic information may be combined with such clinical markers to guide stratified drug prescription in type 2 diabetes.

Another important aspect of precision diabetology is that the costs of genotyping are currently high but this will most likely change in the future. Still, genotyping costs need to be weighed against the costs of suboptimal glucose-lowering treatment over several months or years. Therefore, there is a need to develop implementation and evaluation strategies to assess the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic information in diabetes care compared with conventional treatment approaches.

The final question remains of how pharmacogenomic results can be applied to the complex heterogeneous disease that is type 2 diabetes. Most likely, the identification of distinct subtypes of type 2 diabetes will be necessary before pharmacogenetic insights can be successfully used for providing stratified prescriptions of novel glucose-lowering drugs.

Abbreviations

CDKAL1:

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1-like 1

DPP-4:

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4

DPP-4i:

DPP-4 inhibitors

EMPHASIS-HF:

Eplerenone in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure and Mild Symptoms

GLP-1:

Glucagon-like peptide-1

GLP-1 RA:

GLP-1 receptor agonists

GWAS:

Genome-wide association study

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

PDFF:

Proton density fat fraction

PIR:

Proinsulin/insulin ratio

PNPLA3:

Patatin-like phospholipase 3

SGLT2:

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2

SGLT2i:

SGLT2 inhibitors

SORCS1:

Sortilin related VPS10 domain containing receptor 1

UGT:

Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge all researchers that have contributed to this novel research field. We apologise to scientists whose work could not be highlighted due to space and reference limitations. We also thank C. Herder (German Diabetes Center) for critical feedback on the first draft of the manuscript.

Authors’ relationships and activities

WR reports receiving consulting fees for attending educational sessions or advisory boards from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Novo Nordisk, and institutional research grants from Novo Nordisk outside of the topic of the current review. BB declares that there are no relationships or activities that might bias, or be perceived to bias, her work.

Funding

Open Access funding enabled and organised by Projekt DEAL. The German Diabetes Center is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State North Rhine-Westphalia. The review was further supported by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Wolfgang Rathmann & Brenda Bongaerts

  2. German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany

    Wolfgang Rathmann & Brenda Bongaerts

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  1. Wolfgang Rathmann
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Rathmann, W., Bongaerts, B. Pharmacogenetics of novel glucose-lowering drugs. Diabetologia 64, 1201–1212 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-021-05402-w

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Keywords

  • Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Precision medicine
  • Review
  • Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors
  • Type 2 diabetes