Telmisartan Improves Insulin Resistance with Modulating Adipose Tissue Macrophage Polarization in High Fat-fed Mice

Diet-induced obesity is reported to induce a phenotypic switch in adipose tissue macrophages from an antiinflammatory M2 state to a proinflammatory M1 state. Telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist, reportedly has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity. We studied the effects of telmisartan on the adipose tissue macrophage phenotype in high fat-fed mice. Telmisartan was administered for 5 weeks to high fat-fed C57BL/6 mice. Insulin sensitivity, macrophage infiltration, and the gene expressions of M1 and M2 markers in epididymal fat tissues were examined. Insulin- or a glucose-tolerance test showed that telmisartan treatment improved insulin resistance, decreasing the body weight gain, visceral fat weight and adipocyte size without affecting the amount of food intake. Telmisartan treatment reduced the number of CD11c-positive cells and crown-like structures. Telmisartan reduced the mRNA expressions of M1 macrophage markers, such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, and increased the expression of M2 markers, such as IL-10 and Mgl2. The reduction of M1 macrophage markers, as well as the increased gene expression of M2 markers especially IL-10, is a possible mechanism for the improvement of insulin sensitivity by telmisartan.

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Fujisaka S, Usui I, Kanatani Y, Ikutani M, Takasaki I, Tsuneyama K, Tabuchi Y, Bukhari A, Yamazaki Y, Suzuki H, Senda S, Aminuddin A, Nagai Y, Takatsu K, Kobayashi M, Tobe K