Researchers report that mirabegron, a drug approved for treating bladder disorders, increased cholesterol synthesis in mouse models of atherosclerosis, leading to increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels and accelerated atherosclerotic plaque growth; the changes depended on thermogenic fat breakdown, which was also induced by mirabegron treatment, suggesting that mirabegron might increase cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease risk, particularly in patients with LDL receptor mutations.
Article #19-01655: "Bladder drug mirabegron exacerbates atherosclerosis through activation of brown fat-mediated lipolysis," by Wenhai Sui et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Yihai Cao, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SWEDEN; e-mail: yihai.cao@ki.se
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences