Anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin ameliorates insulin resistance in monosodium glutamate-treated obese mice.
Considering that inflammation contributes to obesity-induced insulin resistance and that statins have been reported to have other effects beyond cholesterol lowering, the present study aimed to investigate whether atorvastatin treatment has anti-inflammatory action in white adipose tissue of obese mice, consequently improving insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity in vivo (by insulin tolerance test); metabolic-hormonal profile; plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and adiponectin; adipose tissue immunohistochemistry; glucose transporter (GLUT) 4; adiponectin; TNF-alpha; IL-1 beta; and IL-6 gene expression; and I kappaB kinase (IKK)-alpha/beta activity were assessed in 23-week-old monosodium glutamate-induced obese mice untreated or treated with atorvastatin for 4 weeks. Insulin-resistant obese mice had increased plasma triglyceride, insulin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 plasma levels. Adipose tissue of obese animals showed increased macrophage infiltration, IKK-alpha (42%, P < .05) and IKK-beta (73%, P < .05) phosphorylation, and TNF-alpha and IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) ( approximately 15%, P < .05) levels, and decreased GLUT4 mRNA and protein (30%, P < .05) levels. Atorvastatin treatment lowered cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 plasma levels, and restored whole-body insulin sensitivity. In adipose tissue, atorvastatin decreased macrophage infiltration and normalized IKK-alpha/beta phosphorylation; TNF-alpha, IL-6, and GLUT4 mRNA; and GLUT4 protein to control levels. The present findings demonstrate that atorvastatin has anti-inflammatory effects on adipose tissue of obese mice, which may be important to its local and whole-body insulin-sensitization effects.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brasil. danifuruya@yahoo.com
Daniela T
DT
Furuya
Ana C
AC
Poletto
Rodolfo R
RR
Favaro
Joilson O
JO
Martins
Telma M T
TM
Zorn
Ubiratan F
UF
Machado
D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012970:Sodium Glutamate
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human; D012313:RNA; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D012970:Sodium Glutamate