A novel dual PPAR-γ agonist/sEH inhibitor treats diabetic complications in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS:

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk correlates that can progress to type 2 diabetes. The present study aims to evaluate a novel molecule with a dual action against the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

METHODS:

We developed and tested a novel dual modulator, RB394, which acts as a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonist in rat models of the metabolic syndrome-the obese spontaneously hypertensive (SHROB) rat and the obese diabetic Zucker fatty/spontaneously hypertensive heart failure F1 hybrid (ZSF1) rat. In SHROB rats we studied the ability of RB394 to prevent metabolic syndrome phenotypes, while in ZSF1 obese diabetic rats we compared RB394 with the ACE inhibitor enalapril in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and associated comorbid conditions. RB394 (10 mg/kg daily) and enalapril (10 mg/kg daily) were administered orally for 8 weeks.

RESULTS:

RB394 blunted the development of hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia and kidney injury in SHROB rats and reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c, improved glucose tolerance, reduced blood pressure and improved lipid profiles in obese ZSF1 rats. A reduction in liver fibrosis and hepatosteatosis was evident in RB394-treated obese ZSF1 rats. Unlike RB394, enalapril did not demonstrate any positive effects in relation to diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or liver dysfunction in obese ZSF1 rats. RB394 ameliorated diabetic nephropathy by reducing renal interstitial fibrosis and renal tubular and glomerular injury in obese diabetic ZSF1 rats. Intriguingly, enalapril demonstrated a weaker action against diabetic nephropathy in obese ZSF1 rats.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION:

These findings demonstrate that a novel sHE inhibitor/PPAR-γ agonist molecule targets multiple risk factors of the metabolic syndrome and is a glucose-lowering agent with a strong ability to treat diabetic complications.

• Authors: Md Abdul Hye Khan, Lauren Kolb, Melissa Skibba, Markus Hartmann, René Blöcher, Ewgenij Proschak, John D Imig
• Journal: Diabetologia (Diabetologia) Vol. 61 Issue 10 Pg. 2235-2246 (10 2018) ISSN: 1432-0428 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30032428 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• PPAR gamma
• Enalapril
• Epoxide Hydrolases
• EPHX2 protein, rat

Topics

• Animals
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental (complications, drug therapy)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (drug therapy)
• Diabetic Nephropathies (physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Enalapril (pharmacology)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Epoxide Hydrolases (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Fatty Liver (drug therapy, pathology)
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Hypertension (drug therapy)
• Insulin Resistance
• Kidney Glomerulus (pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (pathology)
• Male
• Metabolic Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Obesity (physiopathology)
• PPAR gamma (agonists)
• Rats
• Rats, Zucker