title: Galantamine alleviates inflammation and other obesity-associated complications in high-fat diet-fed mice.
abstract: Obesity, a serious and growing health threat, is associated with low-grade inflammation that plays a role in mediating its adverse consequences. Previously, we have discovered a role for neural cholinergic signaling in controlling inflammation, and demonstrated that the cholinergic agent galantamine suppresses excessive proinflammatory cytokine release. The main objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of galantamine, a clinically-approved drug, in alleviating obesity-related inflammation and associated complications. After 8 wks on a high-fat diet, C57BL/6J mice were treated with either galantamine (4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) or saline for 4 wks in parallel with mice on a low-fat diet and treated with saline. Galantamine treatment of obese mice significantly reduced body weight, food intake, abdominal adiposity, plasma cytokine and adipokine levels, and significantly improved blood glucose, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. In addition, galantamine alleviated impaired insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance significantly. These results indicate a previously unrecognized potential of galantamine in alleviating obesity, inflammation and other obesity-related complications in mice. These findings are of interest for studying the efficacy of this clinically-approved drug in the context of human obesity and metabolic syndrome.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
authors: Sanjaya K
authors: SK
authors: Satapathy
authors: Mahendar
authors: M
authors: Ochani
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Dancho
authors: Laqueta K
authors: LK
authors: Hudson
authors: Mauricio
authors: M
authors: Rosas-Ballina
authors: Sergio I
authors: SI
authors: Valdes-Ferrer
authors: Peder S
authors: PS
authors: Olofsson
authors: Yael Tobi
authors: YT
authors: Harris
authors: Jesse
authors: J
authors: Roth
authors: Sangeeta
authors: S
authors: Chavan
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Tracey
authors: Valentin A
authors: VA
authors: Pavlov
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D052243:Resistin; D005702:Galantamine; D002784:Cholesterol