Dapagliflozin suppresses hepcidin and increases erythropoiesis

Abstract

Context: Dapagliflozin and other SGLT2 inhibitors are known to increase hematocrit, possibly due to its diuretic effects and hemoconcentration. Objective: Since type 2 diabetes is a proinflammatory state and since hepcidin, a known suppressor of erythropoiesis, is increased in proinflammatory states, we investigated the possibility that dapagliflozin suppresses hepcidin concentrations and thus increases erythropoiesis. Design: Prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled study. Setting: Single endocrinology center. Patients: Fifty-two obese type 2 diabetes patients. Intervention: Patients were randomized (1:1) to either dapagliflozin (10 mg daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after treatments and serum, plasma, and mononuclear cells (MNC) were prepared. Main Outcome Measure: Hepcidin and other hematopoietic factors. Results: Following dapagliflozin treatment, there was a significant fall in HbA1c and a significant increase in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit. Dapagliflozin treatment significantly reduced circulating hepcidin and ferritin concentrations while causing a significant increase in levels of the hepcidin inhibitor, erythroferrone, and a transient increase in erythropoietin. Additionally, dapagliflozin increased plasma transferrin levels and expression of transferrin receptors 1 and 2 in MNC, while there was no change in the expression of the iron cellular transporter, ferroportin. Dapagliflozin treatment also caused a decrease in hypoxia-induced factor-1α expression in MNC while it increased the expression of its inhibitor, prolyl hydroxylase-2. There were no significant changes in any of these indices in the placebo group. Conclusions: We conclude that dapagliflozin increases erythropoiesis and hematocrit through mechanisms that involve the suppression of hepcidin and the modulation of other iron regulatory proteins. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 105: e1056–e1063, 2020).