SGLT2 inhibition, plasma proteins, and heart failure: a proteome-wide Mendelian Randomization and colocalization study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the causal contributions of Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition on Heart Failure (HF) and identify the circulating proteins that mediate SGLT2 inhibition's effects on HF.

METHODS

Applying a two-sample, two-step Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, we aimed to estimate: (1) the causal impact of SGLT2 inhibition on HF; (2) the causal correlation of SGLT2 inhibition on 4,907 circulating proteins; (3) the causal association of SGLT2 inhibition-driven plasma proteins on HF. Genetic variants linked to SGLT2 inhibition derived from the previous studies. The 4,907 circulating proteins were derived from the deCODE study. Genetic links to HF were obtained through the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets (HERMES) consortium.

RESULTS

SGLT2 inhibition demonstrated a lower risk of HF (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.76],  = 0.003). Among 4,907 circulating proteins, we identified leucine rich repeat transmembrane protein 2 (LRRTM2), which was related to both SGLT2 inhibition and HF. Mediation analysis revealed that the impact of SGLT2 inhibition on HF operates indirectly through LRRTM2 [β = -0.20, 95% CI (-0.39, -0.06),  = 0.02] with a mediation proportion of 24.6%. Colocalization analysis provided support for the connections between LRRTM2 and HF.

CONCLUSION

The study indicated a causative link between SGLT2 inhibition and HF, with plasma LRRTM2 potentially serving as a mediator.