TNF-α Antagonism Improves Vasodilation During Hyperinsulinemia in Metabolic Syndrome
- Manfredi Tesauro, MD*,
- Francesca Schinzari, MD†,
- Valentina Rovella, MD*,
- Domenico Melina, MD†,
- Nadia Mores, MD†,
- Angela Barini, MD†,
- Marco Mettimano, MD†,
- Davide Lauro, MD†,
- Micaela Iantorno, MD‡,
- Michael J. Quon, MD, PhD‡ and
- Carmine Cardillo, MD (carmine.cardillo{at}rm.unicatt.it)†
- *Università di Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- †Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; and
- ‡NCCAM, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
Abstract
Objective Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation due to overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α. We assessed the effects of TNF-α neutralization by infliximab on vascular reactivity during hyperinsulinemia in obesity-related metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Research Design and Methods Vascular responses to intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were assessed in patients with MetS, before and after administration of infliximab.
Results Patients had blunted vasodilator responses to ACh and SNP during hyperinsulinemia compared with controls; a potentiation of the responsiveness to both ACh and SNP, however, was observed in patients following infliximab. The antioxidant vitamin C improved the vasodilator response to ACh in patients with MetS, but its effect was not further enhanced by concurrent administration of infliximab.
Conclusions TNF-α neutralization ameliorates vascular reactivity in MetS during hyperinsulinemia, likely in relation to decreased oxidative stress, thereby suggesting an involvement of inflammatory cytokines in vascular dysfunction of these patients.
Footnotes
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- Received January 31, 2008.
- Accepted March 30, 2008.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
