Skip to content

Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 46 · 2026

6 results

Semaglutide promotes bone marrow-derived progenitor cell flux towards an anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative profile in high-risk patients: the SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 trial.

Park B, Dennis F, He AZ, Krishnaraj A, Bakbak E, Dennis CJ, Pan Y, Misner E, Thayanithy V, Lambotharan B, Lambotharan V, Lambotharan A and 5 more

Show all authors

Mazer CD, Quan A, Teoh H, Hess DA, Verma S

European heart journal1 Mar 2026Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID40886061 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13016833 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf690 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40886061
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 6 results

Summary

Background and aimsGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) reduce major atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in individuals living with either diabetes or obesity. Since the turnover of vascular regenerative (VR) stem and progenitor cells has been demonstrated to modulate vessel repair and atherothrombotic risk, this study aimed to determine the effect of the GLP-1RA semaglutide on the levels of circulating VR cells.MethodsSEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors. Vascular regenerative cells were enumerated using multi-parametric flow cytometry for high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDHhi) and lineage-specific cell surface marker expression. The primary endpoint was the 6-month change in VR cell content.ResultsCompared with usual care (n = 24), semaglutide (n = 22) led to a greater increase in the number of VR cells [high aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 activity and low side scatter (ALDHhiSSClow): +0.8% vs +34.8%; P = .036], pan-haematopoietic myeloid progenitors (ALDHhiSSClowCD45+: +2.8% vs +40.1%; P = .017), and endothelial precursors (ALDHhiSSClowCD34+ CD133+ CD45-: -2.3% vs +66.2%; P = .037) from baseline. Semaglutide also decreased granulocyte precursors (ALDHhiSSChi: +0.3% vs -50.8%; P = .002), particularly those expressing the neutrophil activation marker CD66b and chemokine receptor CXCR2. Semaglutide down-regulated serum proteins over-represented in pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor and interleukin signalling pathways.ConclusionsIn people living with either type 2 diabetes or obesity plus ASCVD risk, semaglutide increased circulating VR cell content while reducing pro-inflammatory granulocyte precursors and cytokine production. Collectively, these findings suggest that semaglutide may improve endogenous progenitor cell-mediated blood vessel repair processes.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide increased vascular regenerative cells more than usual care over 6 months (+34.8% vs +0.8%).

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide raised blood vessel repair cells more than usual care did.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseVascular regenerative (ALDHhiSSClow) cells
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Change in ALDHhiSSClow cells
    34.8%
    semaglutide
    Change in ALDHhiSSClow cells
    0.8%
    usual care

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Compared with usual care (n = 24), semaglutide (n = 22) led to a greater increase in the number of VR cells [high aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 activity and low side scatter (ALDHhiSSClow): +0.8% vs +34.8%; P = .036]
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The primary endpoint was the 6-month change in VR cell content.
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide increased myeloid progenitors more than usual care over 6 months (+40.1% vs +2.8%).

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide raised a type of blood progenitor cell more than usual care did.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreasePan-haematopoietic myeloid progenitors (ALDHhiSSClowCD45+)
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Change in myeloid progenitors
    40.1%
    semaglutide
    Change in myeloid progenitors
    2.8%
    usual care

    Source sentences

    Summary
    pan-haematopoietic myeloid progenitors (ALDHhiSSClowCD45+: +2.8% vs +40.1%; P = .017)
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide increased endothelial precursors more than usual care over 6 months (+66.2% vs -2.3%).

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide raised blood vessel lining precursor cells, while usual care did not.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseEndothelial precursors (ALDHhiSSClowCD34+ CD133+ CD45-)
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Outcome group
    Vascular function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Change in endothelial precursors
    66.2%
    semaglutide
    Change in endothelial precursors
    −2.3%
    usual care

    Source sentences

    Summary
    endothelial precursors (ALDHhiSSClowCD34+ CD133+ CD45-: -2.3% vs +66.2%; P = .037)
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide decreased granulocyte precursors compared with usual care over 6 months (-50.8% vs +0.3%).

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide lowered inflammatory granulocyte precursor cells compared with usual care.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseGranulocyte precursors (ALDHhiSSChi)
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Change in granulocyte precursors
    −50.8%
    semaglutide
    Change in granulocyte precursors
    0.3%
    usual care

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide also decreased granulocyte precursors (ALDHhiSSChi: +0.3% vs -50.8%; P = .002), particularly those expressing the neutrophil activation marker CD66b and chemokine receptor CXCR2.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide particularly decreased granulocyte precursors expressing the neutrophil activation marker CD66b and the receptor CXCR2.

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide especially lowered granulocyte precursor cells that carry inflammation markers.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseGranulocyte precursors expressing CD66b and CXCR2
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    particularly those expressing the neutrophil activation marker CD66b and chemokine receptor CXCR2.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.
  6. 06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity with ASCVD or ASCVD risk factors, semaglutide down-regulated serum proteins in pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor and interleukin signalling pathways.

    In plain wordsIn people with diabetes or obesity and heart disease risk, semaglutide lowered blood proteins tied to inflammatory signalling.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseSerum proteins in TNF and interleukin signalling pathways
    Study

    n = 46

    Comparator
    Usual care
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 6 monthsAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Semaglutide down-regulated serum proteins over-represented in pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor and interleukin signalling pathways.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    SEMA-VR CardioLink-15 was a randomized translational trial of usual care vs semaglutide for 6 months in 46 participants with either type 2 diabetes and/or obesity plus atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or ASCVD risk factors.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.