Chamchoum E, Katrib N, Nassif N, Ratel Y, Rida MA. Glucagon-like peptide and its receptor agonists for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. World J Exp Med 2025; 15(3): 107020 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i3.107020]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mohamad Ali Rida, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Clemenceau Medical Center, Clemenceau, Beirut 1, Lebanon. mohamad.ali.rida@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Exp Med. Sep 20, 2025; 15(3): 107020 Published online Sep 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i3.107020
Glucagon-like peptide and its receptor agonists for the treatment of rheumatic diseases
Elie Chamchoum, Nadia Katrib, Nicolas Nassif, Yara Ratel, Mohamad Ali Rida
Elie Chamchoum, Nadia Katrib, Nicolas Nassif, Yara Ratel, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut 1, Lebanon
Mohamad Ali Rida, Department of Internal Medicine, Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut 1, Lebanon
Author contributions: Chamchoum E, Katrib N, Nassif N, and Ratel Y contributed to the manuscript writing, literature review, and table making; Rida MA contributed to the manuscript writing, review, and correction.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohamad Ali Rida, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Clemenceau Medical Center, Clemenceau, Beirut 1, Lebanon. mohamad.ali.rida@gmail.com
Received: March 13, 2025 Revised: May 10, 2025 Accepted: July 10, 2025 Published online: September 20, 2025 Processing time: 152 Days and 11.9 Hours
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are well-established therapies for metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity due to their ability to enhance insulin secretion, promote weight loss, and regulate blood glucose levels. Emerging evidence, however, indicates that GLP-1RAs may also have therapeutic potential in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. This review explores the evolving role of GLP-1RAs in managing rheumatic diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Studies suggest that GLP-1RAs reduce inflammation by modulating immune cell activity, increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine production, shifting macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype, and enhancing regulatory T-cell function to maintain immune homeostasis. These immunomodulatory effects point toward a promising adjunctive strategy in current clinical practice for patients with rheumatic diseases, particularly those with metabolic comorbidities. Further clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings, clarify underlying mechanisms, and assess long-term safety, ultimately paving the way for novel treatment approaches in rheumatology.
Core Tip: Growing evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 and its receptor agonists could be an effective treatment option not only for metabolic disorders but also for a range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. They may protect cartilage and reduce joint inflammation, lower the levels of inflammatory cytokines, and help prevent further joint damage and address both the metabolic and inflammatory aspects, reducing cytokine levels and potentially improving disease outcomes.
