A stable prostacyclin analogue reduces high serum TNF-alpha levels in diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To confirm whether a prostacyclin (prostaglandin I (2)) affects the increased TNF-alpha concentration in sera of diabetic patients, we measured serum TNF-alpha concentration and treated these patients with oral administration of the stable prostacyclin analogue (Beraprost). Twelve of 20 type II diabetic patients were investigated for follow up-study and 6 of those patients were for therapy with Beraprost for diabetic neuropathy.


METHODS
Serum TNF-alpha concentration was quantified by EASIA using monoclonal antibodies directed against distinct epitopes of TNF-alpha.


RESULTS
In diabetic patients, serum TNF-alpha concentration was significantly increased compared with that of healthy subjects. The augmented TNF-alpha concentration in these patients was not decreased by diabetic control using antihyperglycemic agents for 8 weeks but was reduced with oral administration of a stable prostacyclin (prostaglandin I (2)) analogue for 5 weeks without any changes of blood glucose levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Stable prostacyclin analogue administration for a short term period reduced increased TNF-alpha levels in diabetic patients, not through the improved hyperglycemic condition but another pathway, probably a cAMP system. These results imply that treatment with the prostacyclin analogue may contribute to the prevention of progression in diabetic complications.
Fujiwara
K
K
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
Nagasaka
A
A
Nagata
M
M
Yamamoto
K
K
Imamura
S
S
Oda
N
N
Sawai
Y
Y
Hayakawa
N
N
Suzuki
A
A
Itoh
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011464:Epoprostenol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C048081:beraprost