Valsartan, independently of AT1 receptor or PPARγ, suppresses LPS-induced macrophage activation and improves insulin resistance in cocultured adipocytes

Abstract

Macrophages are integrated into adipose tissues and interact with adipocytes in obese subjects, thereby exacerbating adipose insulin resistance. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the insulin-sensitizing effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan, as demonstrated in clinical studies. Insulin signaling, i.e., insulin receptor substrate-1 and Akt phosphorylations, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was impaired markedly by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) or in the culture medium of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, and valsartan had no effects on these impairments. However, in contrast, when cocultured with RAW 264.7 cells using a transwell system, the LPS-induced insulin signaling impairment in 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed almost complete normalization with coaddition of valsartan. Furthermore, valsartan strongly suppressed LPS-induced productions of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and TNFα with nuclear factor-κB activation and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase phosphorylation in RAW 264.7 and primary murine macrophages. Very interestingly, this effect of valsartan was also observed in THP-1 cells treated with angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) siRNA or a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) antagonist as well as macrophages from AT1a receptor-knockout mice. We conclude that valsartan suppresses the inflammatory response of macrophages, albeit not via PPARγ or the AT1a receptor. This suppression appears to secondarily improve adipose insulin resistance.