Abstract: Background and purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on proliferation, secretion of calcitonin and energy metabolism of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cell. Methods: The MTC cell line (TT) was cultured in vitro. After treatment with exenatide and liraglutide (0, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L) for 24, 48 and 72 h, the proliferation of TT was analyzed by CCK-8 kit, the calcitonin was measured by calcitonin assay kits, and the energy metabolism of TT was measured by Seahorse XF instrument. Results: When compared with control group, neither exenatide nor liraglutide had effects on proliferation of TT (P>0.05); the calcitonin levels did not change significantly after treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists (P>0.05). Exenatide and liraglutide did not alter glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in TT cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: GLP-1 receptor agonists have no effect on the development of TT. Further collection of the safety data of exenatide and liraglutide on thyroid is still needed.

Key words: Medullary thyroid cancer, Exenatide, Liraglutide, Energy metabolism