title: Beneficial effects of candesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, on beta-cell function and morphology in db/db mice.
abstract: Several epidemiological studies suggested that treatment with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) provided a risk reduction of developing type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated whether and how ARB treatment can improve abnormalities of pancreatic islets in diabetes state. We randomized db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes with obesity, at the age of 8 weeks to receive candesartan, an ARB, for 6 weeks. We also studied age-matched db/misty mice as control. Glucose tolerance test revealed that candesartan treatment improved glucose tolerance with the modest increase in serum insulin level in db/db mice. Concurrently, candesartan increased beta-cell mass, increased staining intensity of insulin, and decreased staining intensity of components of NAD(P)H oxidase, p22phox and gp91phox, and those of oxidative stress markers in beta-cells. These changes were accompanied by reduction of mitochondrial volume. Treatment with candesartan also reduced fibrosis in and around the islets and prevented the loss of endothelial cells in islets. Our results showed that candesartan partially prevented deterioration of glucose tolerance by providing protection against progressive beta-cell damage in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Jiaqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Noseki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Fuki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogihara
authors.forename: Toyoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawamori
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watada
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005355:Fibrosis; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013777:Tetrazoles; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C077793:candesartan cilexetil