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Felodipine downregulates serum interleukin-18 levels in rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome

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Abstract

Objective: Human studies suggest that calcium-channel blockers have cardiovascular protection besides reducing blood pressure, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels which are elevated in obese population are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose of this research was to study the change of serum IL-18 levels and the effect of felodipine on it in high-fructose diet-fed rats. Methods: In this research, 30 Wistar male rats were randomized into 3 groups. A control group (no.=12) was fed with normal feeds, and high-fructose diet was given to a fructose group and a flodioine group (no.=9 in each group). All animals were fed for a period of 32 weeks, during which body weight and systolic blood pressure (BP) were measured once every 4 weeks. Felodipine (5 mg/kg/d) was then administered by gavage daily for 6 weeks to the felodipine group. Before and after treatment with felodipine, fasting plasma lipid, blood glucose, plasma insulin, and serum IL-18 were detected. Results: Body weight, systolic BP, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and the R-value of homeostasis model (HOMA-R) were significantly increased in high-fructose rats (p<0.01). Serum IL-18 levels were elevated and had significant positive correlation with HOMA-R in rats with fructose-induced MetS (p<0.01). We also found that felodipine may decrease HOMA-R and serum IL-18 levels besides reducing blood pressure (p<0.05, p<0.01). Conclusion: IL-18 plays an important role in the development of MetS, while felodipine exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on rats with fructose-induced MetS by down-regulating serum IL-18 levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Public Health, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, China

    X. P. Bi, H. W. Tan, S. S. Xing, M. Zhong, Y. Zhang & W. Zhang MD

  2. Department of Cardiology, Jinan Central Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, China

    X. P. Bi

  3. Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China

    S. S. Xing

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  1. X. P. Bi
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  2. H. W. Tan
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  4. M. Zhong
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  5. Y. Zhang
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  6. W. Zhang MD
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Correspondence to W. Zhang MD.

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Bi, X.P., Tan, H.W., Xing, S.S. et al. Felodipine downregulates serum interleukin-18 levels in rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest 32, 303–307 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345716

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