Effect of rosiglitazone treatment on nontraditional markers of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Markers of systemic inflammation (eg, C-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) have been proposed to be "nontraditional" risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque rupture, which raises the possibility of the use of MMP-9 levels as a marker for future myocardial infarction or unstable angina. In vitro and animal studies suggest that thiazolidinediones can reduce the expression of these markers. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether rosiglitazone alters serum concentrations of CRP, IL-6, MMP-9, and white blood cell count (WBC) and to examine the relationship of these effects with demographic and disease variables.


RESULTS
CRP, IL-6, MMP-9, and WBC were analyzed from stored frozen serum samples obtained from patients with type 2 diabetes who completed a 26-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. After 26 weeks of rosiglitazone treatment, the percentage reductions in mean CRP, MMP-9, and WBC levels were statistically significant compared with baseline and placebo (P<0.01). The percentage reduction in mean IL-6 was small and similar in the rosiglitazone and placebo groups. The change in each inflammatory marker from baseline to week 26 was significantly correlated (P<0.05) with each of the other markers, as well as with the homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosiglitazone reduces serum levels of MMP-9 and the proinflammatory marker CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes, which indicates potentially beneficial effects on overall cardiovascular risk.
Haffner
Steven M
SM
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex 78229-3900, USA. haffner@uthscsa.edu
Greenberg
Andrew S
AS
Weston
Wayde M
WM
Chen
Hongzi
H
Williams
Ken
K
Freed
Martin I
MI
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9