BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms associated with semaglutide and empagliflozin in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) still require further studies to develop precise therapeutic strategies.
AIM: To investigate the effects and the mechanism of action of semaglutide and empagliflozin on MASLD in obese mice.
METHODS: The experimental subjects consisted of 32 mice, which were arbitrarily allocated into four distinct groups: (1) The control group; (2) The high-fat group; (3) The Sema group; and (4) The Empa group. Mice were assessed for body weight changes, glycolipid metabolic status, inflammatory oxidative stress levels, pathology and metabolomics.
RESULTS: Semaglutide and empagliflozin have been demonstrated to exert a substantial impact on glycolipid reduction, the amelioration of glycolipid metabolism disorders, the attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress levels, and the restoration of the pathological structure of liver injury to a certain extent in obese mice. No statistically significant differences in the outcomes associated with MASLD were identified between the two cohorts. The results of this study demonstrated that both semaglutide and empagliflozin had the capacity to influence the levels of several lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC).
CONCLUSION: It has been hypothesised that the amelioration of MASLD by semaglutide and empagliflozin may be associated with a decrease in the levels of several LPCs in liver tissue.