Long-term treatment with an angiotensin II receptor blocker decreases adipocyte size and improves insulin signaling in obese Zucker rats - PubMed (original) (raw)

Long-term treatment with an angiotensin II receptor blocker decreases adipocyte size and improves insulin signaling in obese Zucker rats

Marina C Muñoz et al. J Hypertens. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension and insulin resistance. In addition, administration of selective Ang II type-1 receptor blockers has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. However, only a few studies have addressed the molecular mechanisms involved in this association.

Objective and design: The current study was undertaken to determine whether an Ang II receptor blocker (irbesartan) is effective in improving insulin resistance in adipose tissue from obese Zucker rats, a model of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Ten-week-old male obese Zucker rats (fa/fa) were treated daily with either vehicle or 50 mg/kg irbesartan for 6 months, and their age-matched lean (+/?) (lean Zucker rats) was used as a control. We determined systolic blood pressure (SBP), together with plasma levels of insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose. In addition, we evaluated insulin signaling through the insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt/glucose transporter 4 pathway as well as the inflammatory status of adipose tissue.

Results: Obese Zucker rats displayed hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypercholesterolemia and increased SBP together with decreased activation of insulin signaling through the insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway in adipose tissue as well as increased adipocytes size, macrophage infiltration and augmented levels of inflammatory mediators such tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and Ang II. Chronic irbesartan treatment resulted in an improvement of all alterations.

Conclusion: The present study provides substantial information that demonstrates that long-term selective Ang II blockade ameliorates insulin resistance in adipose tissue from a model of metabolic syndrome via a mechanism that could involve the modulation of insulin signaling.

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