Metabolic and vascular effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade with etanercept in obese patients with type 2 diabetes

Helena Dominguez, Heidi Storgaard, Christian Rask-Madsen, Thomas Steffen Hermann, Nikolaj Ihlemann, Dorthe Baunbjerg Nielsen, Camilla Spohr, Lars Valeur Køber, Allan Vaag, Christian Torp-Pedersen

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) impairs insulin action in insulin-sensitive tissues, such as fat, muscle and endothelium, and causes endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that TNF-alpha blockade with etanercept could reverse vascular and metabolic insulin resistance. METHOD AND RESULTS: Twenty obese patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to etanercept treatment (25 mg subcutaneously twice weekly for 4 weeks) or used as controls in an open parallel study. Forearm blood flow and glucose uptake were measured during intra-arterial infusions of serotonin, sodium nitroprusside and insulin co-infused with serotonin. Beta-cell function was assessed with oral and intra-venous glucose tolerance tests and whole-body insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 decreased significantly with etanercept (C-reactive protein from 9.9 +/- 3.1 to 4.8 +/- 1.4 mg l(-1), p = 0.04; interleukin-6 from 3.1 +/- 0.4 to 1.9 +/- 0.2 ng l(-1), p = 0.03). Vasodilatory responses to serotonin and sodium nitroprusside infusions remained unchanged. Insulin effect on vasodilatation and on whole-body and forearm glucose uptake remained unchanged as well. Beta-cell function tended to improve. CONCLUSION: Although short-term etanercept treatment had a significant beneficial effect on systemic inflammatory markers, no improvement of vascular or metabolic insulin sensitivity was observed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Vascular Research
Volume42
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)517-25
Number of pages8
ISSN1018-1172
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Adult; Biological Markers; C-Reactive Protein; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vasodilation

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