Telmisartan versus metformin in downregulating myostatin gene expression and enhancing insulin sensitivity in the skeletal muscles of type 2 diabetic rat model

oleh: Ahmed Abd-Eltawab Tammam, Waleed Y. Rizg, Waleed Y. Rizg, Amy Fakhry Boushra, Maha Alhelf, Maha Alhelf, Mohammed Alissa, Ghada F. Soliman, Ghada F. Soliman, Ghada Nady Ouais, Ghada Nady Ouais, Khaled M. Hosny, Hala M. Alkhalidi, Ahmed Magdy Elebiary

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-07-01

Deskripsi

Objective: Telmisartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) that specifically blocks angiotensin II type-1 receptors (AT1R). Telmisartan has been proven to have antidiabetic effects via a variety of mechanisms, and it can be utilized in some diabetic patients due to its dual benefit for hypertensive patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) and when the other oral antidiabetic medications are intolerable or contraindicated. However, its precise underlying hypoglycemic mechanism is still obscure.Aim of work: We sought to establish a link between telmisartan administration and myostatin expression in skeletal muscles of T2DM rat model as a potential hypoglycemic mechanism of telmisartan.Materials and Methods: 32 male albino rats were included in the study; 8 rats served as controls (group I). T2DM was inducted in the other 24 rats, which were then randomly subdivided into 3 groups (8 in each): (group II) the Diabetic group and (groups III and IV) which were treated with either telmisartan (8 mg/kg/day) or metformin (250 mg/kg/day) respectively via oral gavage for a 4-week period.Results: Telmisartan administration resulted in a significant improvement in OGTT, HOMA-IR, glucose uptake, and muscle mass/body ratios in Telmisartan group as compared to Diabetic group (p < 0.05). Additionally, telmisartan induced a significant boost in adiponectin and IL-10 serum levels with a substantial drop in TNF-α and IL-6 levels in Telmisartan group compared to diabetic rats (p < 0.05). Moreover, telmisartan significantly boosted SOD and GSH, and decreased MDA levels in the skeletal muscles of telmisartan group. Furthermore, a significant downregulation of myostatin and upregulation of insulin receptor, IRS-1, and IRS-3 genes in the skeletal muscles of Telmisartan group were also detected. Histologically, telmisartan attenuated the morphological damage in the skeletal muscle fibers compared to diabetic rats, as evidenced by a considerable decrease in the collagen deposition area percentage and a reduction in NF-kB expression in the muscle tissues of group III.Conclusion: Telmisartan administration dramatically reduced myostatin and NF-kB expressions in skeletal muscles, which improved insulin resistance and glucose uptake in these muscles, highlighting a novel antidiabetic mechanism of telmisartan in treating T2DM.